The battle for Play-off 1 has become even more exciting. KV Oostende surprisingly lost 0-2 to Waasland-Beveren. It played badly, but the VAR also claimed a dubious leading role. For example, Anderlecht can jump to fourth place on Monday. Waasland-Beveren did grab its last straw in the fight for preservation. Is a miracle still possible?
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VAR. From now on it no longer stands for Video Assistant Referee, but for Very Awkward Referee. Or for Very Arbitrary Referee. You can do the translation yourself. The video ref has become strange and random in our competition. For the second match in a row, KV Oostende felt screwed by the VAR. At Mouscron, a goal was inexplicably rejected, against Waasland-Beveren the game was back on the car.
Just before half-time, Ostend scored the 1-2 connection goal. Hjulsager shot in a rebound, but the VAR – this time Wim Smet – intervened because Robbie D’Haese was offside and hindered keeper Jackers. However, the video ref was so focused on the offside that no account was taken of the fact that D’Haese had simply been kicked out by Schryvers. If the goal was rejected, it could also be a penalty. The VAR has become a lottery.
Rock-solid Frey
How different could this match have looked if that goal had been approved? We will never know. Ostend may have been closer to Play-off 1. Or not. The fact is that the coastal team did not play a good match against the red lantern. Playoff nerves?
However, it all started well at the seaside. KVO grabbed Waasland-Beveren by the throat and put a lot of pressure. The visitors lost many duels and when Jäckel hit man and ball during an intervention, Waaslander Koita had to be replaced by Sinani injured. Things didn’t look good for Nicky Hayen’s men. The relegation ghost was already lurking around the corner, but luckily Sakala missed a big chance for the home team.
However, Waasland-Beveren is known as the Houdini of the Jupiler Pro League. On their very first counterattack, Theate went under a ball. Michael Frey – a much too good striker for Beveren – fired at goalkeeper Hubert, but Sinani fired in the falling ball. That is called hitting against the course of the game. The joy was enormous.
Suddenly KV Oostende had completely lost the north. Easy passes were lost, top gunner Sakala ran everywhere and nowhere and in a hasty reaction to level the coastal team blindly stormed forward. That was asking for misery. Like sharks – that coach is not called that for nothing – the Waaslanders preyed on the counter. After another rush, Frey cut out Jack Hendry too easily and his shot went past Hubert: 0-2. It must be said that the Ostend goalkeeper reacted very slowly.
–KV Oostende seemed to be exhausted. Especially because Waasland-Beveren kept creating one-on-one situations tactically and also because Waasland-Beveren, as mentioned, got help from the Very Akward Referee.
Red Jäckel and Gueye
After half time it was just a matter of holding out for the tail team. At Ostend, coach Alexander Blessin threw in all weapons. With Bataille, Thiam, Kvasina, offensive violence entered the team, but the game remained too sloppy to force real chances. Vukotic blocked Gueye’s best shot with the header. Waasland-Beveren remained upright and when the clever Frey Jäckel applied a second yellow cardboard, the calf had drowned. According to the Waaslanders, the German could even have received that red card on his first mistake. It got worse when Gueye immediately took red. Ostend will certainly miss its strong striker next week due to suspension.
The scoreboard no longer changed and so the battle for Play-off 1 becomes extra exciting. Anderlecht can jump to fourth place if it wins against Antwerp. OHL can get involved in the debates if Genk is right and Beerschot will participate again if it beats Cercle. If Ostend does not make it, it will be because of that 0 out of 6 against Waasland-Beveren this season.
The Waaslanders – on the other hand – may once again hope for a miracle in the struggle for conservation. If they win their catch-up match against Sint-Truiden on Tuesday, they may still be able to get rid of their ticket to 1B. Is a new Houdini trick in the works?
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