Vermeeren gives Antwerp full booty against Club Brugge in extremis

Antwerp received the outgoing champion with confidence after the victories on the first two matchdays against Union (0-2) and Genk (2-1). A completely different picture at Club, which after a 0 out of 6 had little to gain in the play-offs. Yet it was blue-black that took off in a sun-drenched Tawny Owl. After a measured cross from Noa Lang, Clinton Mata kicked the 0-1 against the nets after barely a minute of play. Antwerp had to recover from the early blow and halfway through the first period a second cold shower followed. Hans Vanaken headed a cross from (again) Lang past Butez.

Decisive goal in minute 97

Mark van Bommel intervened promptly and replaced Keita for Stengs before the half hour mark. Moments later, the Dutch coach saw his compatriot Vincent Janssen, with a bit of luck, kick in the tying goal. After the break, the tribe number 1 went in search of the equalizer. It eventually fell in the final phase via substitute Gyrano Kerk. In the 86th minute he kicked the 2-2 past a hopeless Simon Mignolet. The game seemed to be heading for a fair division of points, but that was counted without Arthur Vermeeren. The youngster gave his team the very important victory in the 97th minute with a striking bang after a corner kick. In the standings, Antwerp (45 points) increases its lead over Genk and Union to four points. Those teams meet on Sunday evening (from 6:30 PM) in the stadium of the people of Brussels. Club Brugge is with 30 points, halfway through the play-offs, definitively condemned to fourth and last place.