Not 9 out of 9 for Antwerp. The Great Old could have done a great thing, but lost well to LASK Linz. It must now tolerate the Austrians but also Tottenham in the group. And it also has to visit those two clubs. A new stunt is needed.
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READ ALSO. OUR ITEMS. Disappointing night before the Great Old that played without stars (N +)
“Come on! Wake up!“We were eighteen minutes away and Ritchie De Laet called out his teammates – literally. It was necessary. As sharp as Antwerp played against Tottenham, it was so lax against LASK now. De Laet had the right to speak, because he was the only one who reached his normal level. Even more than that, he did just about everything right. The rest, however …
Had they been surprised by the Linz team – neither the biggest nor best known name in international football? Admittedly, we also had to find out who plays there, we called on Georg Leblhuber, an Austrian journalist. “The most dangerous man is Gruber,” he had told us. Hans Gruber explains Die hard, yes, we know him – a dangerous man indeed. But here it was Andreas Gruber, a right winger who scored seven times in the still young season, but kicked the first chance of the match against Butez.
17 million difference
Well, we know for sure that the players of Antwerp were extensively informed about the opponent. Regardless, they struggled with the high pressing and LASK fast attacks. “These are not pancakes,” remarked Patrick Goots – right next to us in the stands. Last season Club Brugge also had a hard time when it encountered them in the qualifications for the Champions League. Their selection is – according to Transfermarkt – worth 17 million less than that of Antwerp, but that was not visible. Shortly after De Laet had shouted his teammates awake – in vain – they even came very close to 0-1. Balic headed through, Raguz kicked over.
It wasn’t until late in the first half that the home team – without Gelin, who wasn’t ready after his cramps at Anderlecht – got through something. We could actually note an opportunity. Birger Verstraete, who had received a stupid yellow card after a missed check, volleyed wide. The players finally seemed to realize that something beautiful was in store. Antwerp was able to equal Anderlecht, which in 2011 was the only Belgian team to start the Europa League group stage with a 9 out of 9.
Going up a notch after the break? That was the intention. But it did not work immediately. In fact, it didn’t take long before the 0-1 was on the board. De Laet allowed himself to be fooled by Gruber, who served Eggestein on the far post – let go by Miyoshi. The German striker, who came in for the injured Raguz before the break, controlled the ball on his chest, remained icy calm and hit.
Red card
Ai Antwerp, what now? We make it, they thought perhaps, because they have turned a disadvantage into a victory more often this season. But then it had to be much better very quickly. Leko brought two new workers around the hour – nothing too soon. Buta and Ampomah relieved Verstraete and Miyoshi and mainly had to provide extra speed and depth. But what the Great Old could help the most was the second yellow card that Holland received. The Australian midfielder from LASK ensured that his team had to play with ten more than twenty minutes.
Yet it was the visitors who came even closer to 0-2. Benavente was also added and in the end also Lukaku – who made his debut – and Boya. But there was no more than creating dangerous positions. Only in the final seconds there was a dot of a chance, but Mbokani kicked them over. Antwerp lost like this and is now a lot further from home. It started with a 6 out of 6, now the LASK and Tottenham – who also have six points – have to tolerate it. And it still has to visit those two teams.
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