Dominant Antwerp runs smoothly 0-2, but runs wild after Denkey’s tying goal and takes the second away win of the season without difficulty

One of the fun facts before the match: it was Ritchie De Laet’s 200th match for the Great Old. The flowers will probably follow later for Mister Antwerp. The focus during the match was also more than necessary because Cercle is a difficult customer and Antwerp has few away credentials with only one away win in the first round. Bataille was still hurt, but for the first time in two months Mandela Keita was back. An important midfielder for the visitors, an equally important one was missing for the home team. Félix Lemaréchal has become a revelation in positions six and ten in recent months, but was absent due to an injury. Muslic solved it with the input of Miangue and again opted for the familiar 4-2-3-1 with Utkus and De Wilde in central midfield as shock absorbers.

Cercle lacked some strength, but especially footballing ability in that midfield and had to suffer the game. Antwerp dominated with good opportunities for Balikwisha and Ekkelenkamp. The moment Cercle had restored some balance, the reigning national champion struck. The green-black midfield was unable to close the spaces sufficiently, De Wilde reacted too late to the incoming Ekkelenkamp and the Dutchman did not give Antwerp an undeserved lead. At Cercle they were constantly looking for top scorer Denkey, but they knew what to do with that in red and white. That was also the case for Warleson on an attempt by Ejuke. The Brazilian goalkeeper turned the ball into a corner.

Antwerp in a seat

To make matters worse for the home team, Utkus also dropped out. He injured himself during a mistake, got a yellow card and could barely walk and therefore could no longer continue. Yet another midfielder they have to miss because Abu Francis, Lopes, Van der Bruggen and Lemaréchal were also already in the sick bay. Muslic no longer has many alternatives and so he brought in Gboho, which meant Somers came a little later.

What Cercle initially showed after half-time was of a questionable level. They were constantly annoyed by referee Nathan Verboomen, who indeed did not referee his best match and did not feel the game very well. Yet they would have been better off using their energy at Cercle in a different way. Antwerp sat in an armchair and struck again in cool blood before the hour. Daland was unable to get a hold of Ejuke, his cross ended up on the other side and after an excellent combination between Balikwisha and Ekkelenkamp, ​​Ejuke was just in time to double Antwerp’s lead.

Cercle suddenly under steam

0-2 but it was the signal for Cercle to get more into the match and also create danger. Denkey hit the crossbar and saw the tying goal drilled through the nose. Muslic then brought on Olaigbe for the pale Nazinho and green-black suddenly found themselves again. Siquet decided to go wide, but who else than Kévin Denkey broke the match open again. Now they got through the center easily and Denkey thanked Somers’ pass: goal number 12 this season from the Togolese, who almost headed in the equalizer. Antwerp gasped and with an exciting finish in prospect, Van Bommel made three more substitutions before the final quarter.

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Antwerp could use some fresh energy because Cercle was now completely under steam. It was fortunate that substitute Ravych aimed over a corner. But Balikwisha himself squandered the unique opportunity to save Antwerp on the counter. On the contrary, seven more nervous minutes of added time followed. At Cercle they should ask themselves why they only woke up so late. Because in the end it was still 1-3 past Ilenikhena.

© Isosport

Cercle Brugge: Warleson; Siquet, Popovic, Daland; Miangue (72′ Semedo) Utkus (41′ Gboho), De Wilde, Nazihno (62′ Olaigbe); Minda (72′ Ravychà Somers, Nazinho; Denkey

Antwerp: Butez; De Laet (77′ Corbanie) Alderweireld, Coulibaly, Wijndal; Vermeeren (81′ Yusuf), Keita, Balikwisha, Ekkelenkamp (77′ Muja), Ejuke (99′ Van Den Bosch); Janssen (77’Ilenikhena)

Goals: 20′ Ekkelenkamp (Balikwisha) 0-1, 58′ Ejuke (Ekkelenkamp) 0-2, 69′ Denkey (Somers)1-2, 97′ Ilenikhena (Yusuf)

Yellow cards: 38′ Utkus (foul), 45′ Daland (protest), 75′ Ravych (foul), 86′ Somers (spoilage)

Red cards:

Referee: Nathan Verboomen

Spectators: 4178

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