After the attrition battle against Liverpool last Thursday, Union had to quickly recharge for a league match against KV Mechelen. Certainly feasible on paper, but Malinwa previously turned out to be the black beast of the people of Brussels. For example, in the first round it was 4-0 Achter De Kazerne.
So Union had something to make up for, but Thursday’s match still seemed to have some work to do. The result was a very slow first half with few goal chances on either side.
Not that Union didn’t try, but Mechelen’s block was well positioned and it was difficult to find holes in the defense. Of course, all eyes went back to Puertas and Amoura to force things, but they were invisible for a long time.
Only at the end of the first half did Union step up a gear. It resulted in one big chance: Lazare was able to head from close range, but the Ivorian saw his header well stopped by Coucke. On the other side, Mechelen was also dangerous for the first time after a nice ball from Hairemans to Lauberbach, but Castro-Montes saved the furniture with a much-needed intervention.
Union realized that it had to do better and immediately took control of the game in the second half, and scored immediately with the first chance. A long shot from Lapoussin was boxed back into the field too centrally by Couke, allowing Amoura to easily nod in the rebound. 1-0, although goalkeeper Coucke didn’t really look great. For Amoura it was already his twelfth goal in thirteen competition games.
Mac Allister on the line
Anyway, the lead was a fact and so the hardest part was done for Union, although a one-goal lead always remains treacherous. Mechelen continued to believe in its chances and actually had enough chances to score the equalizer, but Union held on.
And we can thank two guys for that: on the one hand Anthony Moris, who had to intervene three times on shots from Hairemans and Walsh (2X), and on the other hand also Mac Allister. In the 85th minute his goalkeeper was beaten, but the Argentinian defender saved Antonio’s shot on the line. Union escaped.
Union, on the other hand, was unable to achieve much after the 1-0. Mac Allister and Burgess had chances to make it 2-0 and every time Amoura got the ball there was a threat, but a second goal was no longer possible.
At Union they certainly won’t care: the relief that the 1-0 remained on the board was great. Thanks to the victory, Union now puts Anderlecht on nine points, although the Purple & White will play against Antwerp later in the evening.
Union: Moris, Mac Allister, Burgess, Machida, Castro-Montes (67′ Terho), Lazare (67′ Rasmussen), Vanhoutte, Lapoussin, Puertas (89′ Sadiki), Amoura (76′ Eckert Ayensa), Nilsson (76′ Rodriguez )
KV Mechelen: Coucke, Walsh, Bates, Cobbaut, Pflücke (67′ Antonio), Konaté (79′ Bassette), Vanlerberghe, Schoofs, Mrabti (67′ Bafdili), Hairemans, Lauberbach
Goals: 54′ Amoura (1-0)
Yellow cards: 74′ Nilsson, 90′ Bafdili
Red cards: /
Referee: Bert Put