A Night Where Beer Flies and Points Disappear
Oh, dear Union Saint-Gilloise! Just when you think you’re soaring high, you find yourself losing not just two points but also a few feathers along the way. This Saturday evening, as the thirteenth day of the championship unfolded, our brave Brussels warriors led the match against Mechelen for what felt like an eternity—until, that is, the notorious added time when things took a rather fizzy turn.
Picture this: Union leads 1-0 thanks to Promise David who graciously converted a penalty after a VAR intervention. Don’t you just love it when technology gets involved in football? Who needs boozy celebrations when you’ve got a referee playing the role of God, right? But after the half, it seemed our heroes decided to let their guard down—an ill-timed siesta, perhaps? Meanwhile, Mechelen—clearly re-energized and doubtlessly inspired by their halftime snacks—came back not just organized but positively buzzing!
Now, added time rolls around, and oh boy, what a wild ride it was! As Anthony Moris lay on the turf, perhaps contemplating the meaning of life or maybe just checking his Instagram, he became the unfortunate recipient of a flying beer courtesy of the enthusiastic Malinois supporters. Five stars for accuracy, I suppose! But let’s not forget, amidst this liquid chaos, it did lead to an exciting series of events—referee waving players off to the locker room like a parent sends kids to their room after mischief.
Fast forward to when the match resumed, and who would have guessed? The keenly awoken Malinois took full advantage of a Union side clearly dazed by the unexpected flight of fizzy projectiles. Just like that, Touba, who had earlier inflicted the penalty upon his own team, found the back of the net! A sweet poetic justice, one could say—a beautiful mess of a match ending 1-1. A bitter pill to swallow for Union’s supporters and players alike.
And let’s not overlook Loïc Lapoussin, who made a return to the starting lineup and played the whole match—an effort certainly worthy of a mention. Sure, not as memorable as dodging a can of beer or denying Mechelen from snatching a late equalizer, but well done nonetheless!
In hindsight, this match could easily become the stuff of legends—albeit, a rather soggy legend, with the beer-soaked narrative wrapped in calamity. A tinge of victory for Mechelen, while Union Saint-Gilloise must ponder not just their loss of two points but also the fact that sometimes, you really can’t account for a flying beverage.
Now, whether it’s back to the training grounds or a cozy pub to drown sorrows with more beer—let’s just hope those feathers grow back soon!
Union Saint-Gilloise lost two points and a few feathers this Saturday evening as part of the thirteenth day of the championship. Traveling to Mechelen, the men of Sébastien Pocognoli led the score until added time, before the match was interrupted for beer being thrown from Malinois supporters. Returning from the locker room, Mechelen took advantage of the deconcentration of their opponents to equalize from a corner in the 94th minute, final score 1-1. A sharing with the taste of victory for Mechelen, and bitter defeat for the Unionists.
In the first period, Union Saint-Gilloise showed a good face and offered an interesting level of play. Mechelen struggles to respond and USG is rewarded in the 19th minute. Promise David converts a penalty signaled by VAR. The opening score was sluggish but deserved, 0-1. During the rest of the half, the people of Brussels forgot to take cover. And on the (first) return from the locker room, they face significantly better organized Malinois, most certainly reframed by Besnik Hasi at halftime. Despite this, both teams continue to create opportunities but do not convert them.
In added time, while he is lying on the ground, Anthony Moris receives a beer from the stands. The projectile hits his stomach but the guard holds his head. The whole scene causes tempers to heat up. And the match referee sends everyone back to the locker room, as protocol requires in this type of case.
After the police were able to catch the “culprits”, the match was able to resume. And the Malinois took full advantage of the opponent’s slight deconcentration to equalize in the 94th minute via Toubahe who caused the penalty in the first period. A funny end to the match and a huge disappointment for the Union.
Note that for his return as starter, Loïc Lapoussin played the entire match.
**Interview with Football Analyst David Kessler**
**Editor:** Welcome, David! It sounds like it was quite a dramatic match between Union Saint-Gilloise and Mechelen. Can you give us your insights on what went wrong for Union?
**David Kessler:** Absolutely! Union started strong, leading with a penalty converted by Promise David, and things looked bright. However, it seems they lost focus after halftime, allowing Mechelen to regroup and capitalize. Football is often about momentum, and in this case, Union’s inability to maintain their lead was crucial.
**Editor:** The incident with Anthony Moris and the flying beer sounds like a scene straight out of a comedy show! How did that affect the game dynamics?
**David Kessler:** It certainly added an unexpected twist! When the supporters’ enthusiasm took a literal turn with a flying beer can, it disrupted Union’s rhythm. Such interruptions can jar the players, and as we saw, Mechelen capitalized on that momentum shift effectively.
**Editor:** Touba’s equalizer really seemed like a twist of fate, especially after causing the penalty. How significant was this moment for both teams?
**David Kessler:** That goal held a lot of narrative significance! For Touba, scoring after his earlier mishap was a form of redemption. For Mechelen, it was a morale boost that showed they could come back against the odds. Meanwhile, for Union, it was a harsh reminder of how fleeting success can be in football.
**Editor:** Loïc Lapoussin’s return was mentioned, but overshadowed by more dramatic events. What can you tell us about his performance?
**David Kessler:** Lapoussin played the full match and, despite the chaos, his presence was a stabilizing force. While he may not have had the spotlight, he contributed significantly to the team’s structure. In a match defined by drama, sometimes those quiet performances are the unsung heroes.
**Editor:** With this draw, what do you think Union needs to focus on moving forward?
**David Kessler:** Union needs to refocus on maintaining their intensity throughout the entire match. Losing points at the last minute can become a pattern if not addressed. Additionally, they might want to strengthen their resilience to external distractions, like enthusiastic fans, to ensure they keep their focus where it belongs—on the game.
**Editor:** Thank you, David! It was great to get your take on this eventful match. Let’s hope Union can regroup and aim higher in their upcoming games!
