“VAR-red” card kills Essevee in semi-final cup

The first half brought few open goal chances. One on each side. Van Hoorenbeeck had an open shooting opportunity after 25 minutes, but was incomprehensibly unable to place his shot within the frame. Less than ten minutes later, Jelle Vossen blasted hard on goal from outside the box. Coucke saved with his fists. Ndour couldn’t tap the rebound.

Yellow turns red for Ciranni

Yet those two phases were not the most discussed facts of the first half. The VAR took care of that. Ciranni came too late to the slashing Storm on his flank and was first shown a yellow cardboard. But after the intervention of the VAR, that became a red card. Essevee protested fiercely, but still had to search for the goal with ten of them for a good half that had to prevent the elimination. (Read more below the photo)

Essevee continues to look for the 0-1

The second half brought most of the initiative to the visitors. With De Buyser for Ndour. Although Zulte Waregem was outnumbered, Essevee understood that it had to score itself if it wanted to be able to go to Heysel for the fourth time in its existence. With a free kick from Brüls, Vossen headed just wide.

Bates with the 1-0

Although it also remained in two minds. Because Verstraete came close to 1-0. It fell shortly after. Derijck forgot Bates at the far post and he scored the opening goal from a sharp angle. Essevee already had to score twice. But just under five minutes later it was almost 2-0. A bang from Hairemans exploded on the batten. Bossut was right in the rebound. Vossen came close to the equalizer, but Coucke got it from under the crossbar. Essevee can now fully concentrate on operation rescue.