Union beats Antwerp and Van Bommel in an uninteresting Belgian cup final

NOS Football•today, 5:34 PM

Union Sint-Gillis has won the Belgian Cup at the expense of coach Mark van Bommel’s Royal Antwerp: 1-0. It means the first cup win for Union since 1914 and a missed opportunity for a new prize for Van Bommel.

Last season, Van Bommel won the national title and the national cup in his first year as coach of Antwerp and at the end of July he also won the Belgian Super Cup with Antwerp. Title prolongation is out of sight with currently sixth place in the play-offs for the championship.

According to various media, Van Bommel is in his last weeks at Antwerp. In today’s final in Brussels, he fielded no fewer than four Dutchmen with Owen Wijndal, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp, ​​Gyrano Kerk and Vincent Janssen.

There was no great goal danger in the first act, but with more than 75 percent possession of the ball, the initiative lay with Union. However, the game was not very exciting on either side. The pace was slow and little risk was taken.

Nevertheless, the ban was broken just before the half-time signal. Antwerp defender Zeno van den Bosch unfortunately headed the ball to the first post and Union defender Koki Machida was able to score from close range (1-0).

The second half started just like the first with fireworks. Literally, Antwerp fans threw torches on the field. The match was stopped briefly and the supporters were called to order. The match picture still did not produce many fireworks after the interruption.

Antwerp searched fruitlessly for opportunities. After a back heel from Kerk, attacker Michel Balikwisha had a chance to take a shot, but his shot was blocked. Janssen and Ekkelenkamp also had opportunities, but were unable to force the equalizer.

Union also had chances to make it 2-0 in the final phase, striker Mohamed Amoura shot wide one-on-one with the keeper in extra time. The team from Brussels could afford that, the third cup win in Union history was a fact.