Besnik Hasi will have been happy to see it. From the stands he saw how KV Mechelen gained confidence with a first win since September 2, when they beat Eupen at home. In a match without too many goal chances, a penalty from Hairemans was enough for the Mechelen three-pointer against a weak Charleroi. With a four out of six, interim coach Fred Vanderbiest neatly delivers his team to the new Mechelen T1.
After a hopeful draw against Standard last Sunday, KV Mechelen once again looked into the eyes of a Walloon team. Charleroi was barely one point above Malinwa and could make good use of the points after a zero out of six. Vanderbiest missed the injured Lauerbach, meaning Bassette celebrated his first starting spot in the Jupiler Pro League. Hairemans pushed Pflücke to the bench, while Bafdili, who made his debut at Sclessin, also started on the bench. Vanlerberghe started as a defensive midfielder, Schoofs moved forward a row. Bager, Heymans, Morioka and Bernier returned to the team at Charleroi.
Hasi watches from the stands
Under the watchful eye of his new coach Besnik Hasi, who was still in the stands, Rob Schoofs fired his first shot after seven minutes. The leather disappeared high over the target. Malinwa took control. Hairemans sent Bassette into the street and he entered into a sprint duel with Andreou, where he fell in the sixteen. The striker claimed a penalty, but ref De Cremer rightly did not accept it. The home team combined well, until Charleroi kept stopping them around the zone of truth. After almost twenty minutes, Bager even did that with his arm, although De Cremer did not see a penalty in that either. Nor does the VAR.
Hairemans saves the furniture
After 28 minutes, KVM goalkeeper Coucke had yet to grab a ball, but it was almost bingo on the first visiting chance. Heymans towered above everyone and headed towards goal. Coucke was beaten, but Hairemans saved on the line. It was the only chance in a first half in which we remained hungry. There was hardly any goal danger other than Heymans’ header. Just before half time, Cobbaut was able to direct a corner kick to Konaté, although that did not result in a goal either.
Ancien Marcq on the emergency brake
The second half started with Malinwa’s rickety defending. Vanlerberghe narrowly slipped the ball to Cobbaut who threw the ball away at random. The leather promptly ended up on Bassette’s chest, who charged at Koffi. Ancien Damien Marcq tapped the striker in the large rectangle and the ball now hit the spot. “Thank you,” Hairemans said and the score was 1-0 against the ropes. Charleroi had to continue with ten, because Marcq got red. Yellow-red wanted to finalize the match. A busy Walsh slipped through the visiting defense, but his cross disappeared into the hands of Koffi. On a counter-attack, Mrabti tried to outwit the Charleroi goalkeeper from far away, but the Burkinabe was back in his goal in time.
Double substitution at KV Mechelen
The Karolos had a difficult time and with another Mechelen shot it was all hands on deck again. However, Hairemans’ lob could not outwit Koffi. Minute 68 was the end point for Konaté and Bassette in this match. Both were struggling, so youngsters Bafdili and Soelle Soelle made an appearance. A Charleroi goal was not really in the air, although we had to be careful with that narrow 1-0 lead. When Foulon, who had advanced along with him, did not return in time, Ilaimaharitra was given an open shooting opportunity. However, his attempt was far too weak to worry Coucke. Typical of his team’s poor performance.
There was also no final offensive – it was even KVM that had two good chances through the too selfish Bafdili and Malede – as a result of which KV Mechelen recorded its first victory since September 2. The Kakkers thus rise to eleventh place and can go into the international break with a good feeling. Charleroi is unable to get out of the basement of the rankings after a zero out of nine.