Lyra-Lierse or Rupel Boom? The match of the year in 5 key figures (Lower series)

1 – A lot of ambition to go to 1st National

Before the season, both clubs had the ambition to take the step to 1st National. Lyra-Lierse wanted to take advantage of the reforms in the 1st National to finally get their ticket to the highest amateur class, but Rupel Boom could take the step higher again after a year in the purgatory of the 2nd Division VV B. Coach Sam Vermeylen qualifies the latter. “Promotion was certainly not the intention when I arrived here: we really had zero players last year in April. Only then did we start building with boys from the neighborhood. Initially we just wanted to have a quiet season and now we are in the final round, with as many points as Lyra-Lierse! So it is possible.”

At Lyra-Lierse the ambition was slightly more pronounced. “Although we had to make some adjustments in mid-October,” says Tomas Muyldermans. “We would really like to get promoted this season, but in November we had to adjust our objective slightly to ‘mission maintenance’.” Under the new coach Tom Proost, Lyra-Lierse achieved a series of 39 out of 39. “Who would have thought that we would still reach the final round a few months later? It’s really incredible.”

2 – Lyra-Lierse put Boom over the knee twice

Rupel Boom’s supporters were not all happy when Lyra-Lierse came out. This is somehow understandable: in the direct confrontation it lost twice. On the road it was 3-0 in the snow and at home they lost 2-5. “The intention is to take revenge, yes,” says Boom interim captain Staf De Graeve firmly.

“Before the winter break we were still searching a bit, after the winter break we received a visit from Lyra-Lierse, which was in that incredible flow. But now? We have absolutely no fear. As a team we couldn’t wish for a better poster, right? Two traditional clubs that will go all out and we get the perfect opportunity to take revenge.”

“Boom was one of the clubs we absolutely wanted to avoid,” says Sebbe Augustijns. “When you see what shape they have been in in recent weeks and months.” For example, Boom scored a solid 28 out of 36 in the final period, one point more than Lyra-Lierse, one point less than eventual champion Belisia Bilzen. “No, we absolutely do not underestimate them.”

25 – Jason Adesanya scored 25 goals for Rupel Boom

Because both clubs are so close to each other, there are some players who have a history together. Cyronn De Wilde, for example, walked on and off the field for Lyra-Lierse last year, but now has his permanent place at Rupel Boom. But there is also someone at the front of the Pallieters with a Boom past to speak to. “I only have positive memories of Boom,” says goalkeeper Jason Adesanya. “That was my first amateur club after my professional career.”

During the winter break of 2016/2017, Adesanya from Lommel joined the Steenbakkers. “We had a really nice team, with guys who I still hear to this day: Nick Spaenhoven, Jonas Laureys (both RC Mechelen now), Jeroen Van Den Driessche (Berchem Sport) and Lennard Hens (now captain at Dender ). Of that team, only Jordan Kerstenne still plays at Boom.”

In his second season with Rupel Boom, Adesanya emerged as a top scorer. In the season and a half that the striker played there, he found the goal 25 times in just over forty games. “That’s nice, but my best memory remains our championship match against Londerzeel. It remained really exciting until the last minute, but with my two goals I still assured us of the title.” In the end it became 4-3.

15 – The last 15 minutes are the most dangerous

Especially when you play against Rupel Boom. In no fewer than nine (!) games, the Steenbakkers managed to score a point or even win in the final match. Coach Vermeylen: “How does that happen? It is not the reason, but in addition to our eleven starters, we also have boys on the bench who can make the difference.”

Good example: the match against Berchem. In minute 87 it was still 0-0, and yet afterwards the score was 2-1, thanks to substitute Jordy Mathei’s opening goal. Boom keeps going until the absolute end, something they have known all too well in Hasselt for a few weeks now.

With five minutes left on the clock, Hasselt was awarded another penalty at 1-2. “But when our goalie grabbed it, I still dared to believe in it,” said De Graeve, who had just been suspended that match. “I was in the stands and the celebration that broke out when it became 2-2 and less than a minute later 3-2, yes, that was legendary.” Top favorite Hasselt from the title race and in Lier they have already been warned.

12 – An all-determining 12th man

“Some extra people came for our last match to Tongeren,” said De Graeve. “It was a decisive match and they knew exactly that we could use their support. And it finally worked! I hope that many supporters will also come to Lyra-Lierse on Sunday.”

Sebbe Augustijns experienced for himself that there is a 12th man present in Lier when he transferred from the Dutch professional club Telstar during the winter break. “That’s actually kind of funny: I still had a profile photo on Facebook from my time at KV Mechelen. Now, I barely use my Facebook, but a bunch of fans saw that and I actually got one comment after another about it. I didn’t know it was so sensitive! So I’m still approached about that, but in a good way. Really – I have found a super club here, which means that I am really happy that my option to stay next season has been exercised,” concludes Augustijns.