Lommel defeated Deinze at home in the final of the Challenger Pro League play-offs. Diego Rosa became the match winner with the (delicious) winning goal 10 minutes before the end. The season is over for Deinze, Lommel will play a return match against KV Kortrijk with the aim of a place in the Jupiler Pro League.
Deinze-Lommel in a nutshell
- Key moment: After a cautious start, Deinze had grown into the match, with Mertens’ equalizer. Yet Lommel continued to attack, with a beautiful goal as reward: a backheel from Arthur Sales to his Brazilian compatriot Diego Rosa and it was bingo.
- Man of the Match: Lommel paid more than 2 million euros to Feyenoord for 20-year-old Togolese Karim Dermane, simply Karim, but against Deinze he proved to be worth every cent. Small in stature, but big in drive. Karim had a foot in almost every defensive and offensive action. He also opened the decisive 1-2 with a through ball.
- Statistics: Deinze has never played at the highest level in its almost hundred-year history and it will have to wait at least another year for that to change.
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The Brazilians do it for Lommel
In the first match in Limburg, Lommel and Deinze were evenly matched. The clash in playing style continued in the return match: Lommel tried to attack uninhibitedly, Deinze mainly speculated on a few shots.
There were no big chances in the first half, although Lommel had the best claim to a goal. The young Finn Juho Talvitie provided a threat from his right flank and even scored a goal. His deflected shot flew into the short corner.
The second half was a lot more pleasant, also because Deinze had raised his level. At Lommel the danger now mainly came from the Brazilians, although Arthur Sales hesitated too much to make it 0-2.
Almost immediately afterwards the score was 1-1, thanks to a moment of grace from Souleymane Anne, who came on after the break: a volley from in front of the halfway line that forced goalkeeper De Busser to make an unorthodox save.
The equalizer eventually came, after a nice cross from Van Landschoot that was dropped into the goal with his head by Lennart Mertens.
The penny could now fall on both sides, but while Deinze slowed down a bit, Lommel continued to attack. The reward was not long in coming: 10 minutes before the end, Sales lifted the ball to pass it through to his free-standing compatriot Diego Rosa. He pulled the trigger.
After this, Lommel did not really run into any more problems. They can prepare for a double match against KV Kortrijk: next Sunday at home, a week later in Kortrijk. At stake: a place in the Jupiler Pro League.
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Chairman Van Veldhoven: “Ready for the next step”
Harm van Veldhoven was already active in the first division with Lommel as a player and as a trainer. Now he can also add ‘as chairman’ to that list.
“We said from the start of the season that promotion was the goal. We failed in the regular season by finishing with barely 4 points from 4 matches. But for the play-offs we were able to turn the switch. “
“First we eliminated Zulte Waregem and now Deinze. Those are not just any of the best. In the double confrontation with Kortrijk, anything is possible.”
Van Veldhoven is happy that the Lommel recipe, financially supported by the group around Manchester City, is gradually catching on. “Over the past 4 years, the support at the club has grown enormously. In that respect, we are ready for the next step.”
Lommel mainly focuses on young players, who in the past may have left the club a little too quickly. “It’s easy to keep track of the players longer when you play at the highest level. But of course we still have to do something if we were to be promoted.”
Van Veldhoven certainly does not want to sell the bear’s skin yet. “A party already? I think that’s exaggerated. Be happy for a moment and then head back towards Kortrijk.”
Phase by phase
END: Lommel plays jump-off against Kortrijk
An incorrect throw-in by Deinze is the final achievement of this clash between Deinze and Lommel. After a lackluster first half, things really got going after halftime. Lommel showed just a little more and deservedly continues.
It doesn’t seem to be possible anymore for Deinze. There is too much panic, too little consultation. It must almost be a fluke.
We are in the 3rd minute of 6 minutes of extra time, but not much is being played anymore. Lots of fouls, lots of cards too.
Explosive final phase
The matches are now in danger of boiling over after a foul by Aguilar, which was also whistled by De Cremer. Just keep a cool head now.
Penalty? No penalty!
At Deinze they scream bloody murder, because they saw a foul in the clash between Anne and Tolinsson. Referee De Cremer refuses and has to put out a fire on Deinze’s bench. He draws red for Hans Somers’ assistant.
Lommel keeps the pressure on by continuing to attack himself. Amar Fatah seriously has some gunpowder in his legs. Miras hits the ground just in time to make the save.
The ball comes into the mix for newly substituted Nicolas Mercier. He seems a bit scared himself. It could be an explanation for his inferior shot, a slider next to the goal.
It hasn’t been played here for a long time. A free kick from Janssens lands perfectly in front of Anne’s head, but she deflects his header, making it a bump ball.
GOAL: Diego Rosa with the (decisive?) 1-2!
Lommel is very happy, because Diego Rosa does it on his second attempt. It is therefore still a goal to frame. The ubiquitous Karim with the play-in pass through the middle, Sales’ back heel and then Rosa’s unstoppable blast.
At Deinze they now seem to be a little more reserved, but at Lommel they continue to attack. Diego Rosa is close with a flame. Half a meter off.
The caution of the first half was completely thrown overboard after the break. Both teams attack as if they absolutely have to score a goal. While in the current situation we simply get 2 extra 15 minutes.
GOAL: Mertens equalizer!
Deinze equalized just under half an hour from the end. Van Landschoot paints the ball perfectly with his left hand on the approaching Lennart Mertens, who finds the far corner.
Everything can be done again.
2 big chances on both sides
The flames are now completely gone. At Lommel, Arthur Sales gets the chance to make it 0-2, but his chest control is not ideal, causing him to drift a little too far from the goal. He doesn’t dare to kick anymore, opportunity lost.
On the other side, Souleymane Anne applies for the Goal of the Season with a very far kick, but De Busser cannot be outdone.
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Deinze is still alive
The second half is a lot more enjoyable than the first. A real cup match. Christophe Janssens created Deinze’s best chance in this match, but goalkeeper Jari De Busser went flat.
Miras keeps Deinze in the match
Juho Talvitie almost scores his second of the afternoon. Although he slips during his kick, he still forces Deinze goalkeeper Miras to dive into the corner.
