If Sporting Charleroi wanted to claim a place in PO1, it did well to win at home against STVV tonight. But an uninspired Charleroi got nothing done. The match started as it ended – 0-0 – and Sint-Truiden in particular did a good job with that.
Belhocine had even changed his system for the occasion – was it adapting to STVV or was it a last-ditch attempt to reverse the bad 6/30 run? There was no doubt that something must be done at Charleroi.
The organization of the visitors was in any case up to date, which is something that Peter Maes is known for. Offensively, it was limited to long balls towards Suzuki and Mboyo, but debutant Cédric Kipre – 1m93 and 96kg – was not happy with that. Opportunities? Barely. Or it had to be that time just before half-time when Vranjes could not reach a cross. In short, deprivation in Charleroi.
Weg play-off 1
It was especially up front that Charleroi was underage, and Karim Belhocine saw that too: he took a pale Rezaei and Gholizadeh to the side and went for power play with Nicholson and Teodorczyk. Meanwhile, Sint-Truiden had actually shot at goal, but Descamps floated Hashioka’s attempt out of goal.
The visitors – with the young and brisk Stan Van Dessel in the base for the first time this season – still had the best chances. Substitute Nazon kicked, Descamps had to let go, but was lucky that his defenders had followed well. The home team did not do anything in return.
Due to the draw, Play-off 1 is now a lost cause for Charleroi, even Play-off 2 will be difficult. And Sint-Truiden could also have used the three points to look forward to the cellar cracker next match day against Waasland-Beveren with a calmer heart.
.
