STVV beat KV Mechelen for the fourth time this season (2-1) and comes within one point of Besnik Hasi’s men. Bertaccini erased ex-Kanarie Konaté’s opening goal with two goals. Place eight remains in sight.
STVV also needed nine minutes to put things right. Koïta got going and soloed through the visitors’ sixteen. Bertaccini gave Koïta a helping hand and scored the equalizer with a deflected ball. Everything is back in balance, against the senses of a deeply displeased Hasi.
Slimani remained the man to watch. On the half hour, the striker should have made it 1-2 after a quick counter-attack. Godeau defended stately against Pflücke, who crossed perfectly to Slimani. The ex-Anderlecht striker’s volley missed the frame, luck for STVV.
Second goal for Bertaccini
Mukau earned a yellow card when he heavily charged Bertaccini, but referee Vermeiren let it pass. Due to the ball advantage, Bocat was able to torpedo Thoelen’s fists, but Bertaccini had to be treated for a few minutes. It did not stop STVV’s winter signing from keeping full pressure on the accelerator. Bocat again came with a good assist from the left, Bertaccini remains a man who scores very easily, he beat Thoelen a second time.
In the injury time of the first half, a certain Rob Schoofs came on strong to level the scores before the change of sides. A good left kick, Suzuki’s save was masterful. Pflücke also came up with a dangerous infiltration, but he missed control. Koïta wanted 3-1 from a free kick, it remained 2-1 until Vermeiren blew before half time.
Cards remain in your pocket
Bertaccini was lurking in the fourth quarter of an hour to score his fifth goal in the STVV shirt. Only attack companion Zahiroleslam was too selfish twice. The duels became more bitter now and then, and it was surprising that referee Vermeiren still kept his cardboard boxes in his pocket. Substitute Bolingoli was even allowed to torpedo Bertaccini against the turf with a half stranglehold.
Ito became more and more invisible in the second half, Fink also felt that he had to come up with substitutions to secure the victory. Bertaccini wanted to continue, but Fink let him rest in favor of Asian Cup winner Yamamoto.
Mechelen barely claimed an equalizer in the last part of the match. STVV still wanted to, but there was hardly any major threat to goalkeeper Thoelen. Only Koïta tried, Thoelen saved with some luck. In injury time Yamamoto also had to take a tough tackle, but it was only Janssens who ran into a card.
With this fourth victory for STVV this season against Mechelen, the Canaries are closing in on one point behind their direct competitor for eighth place. But OHL, opponent of STVV next Friday, is also participating for that eighth place after the surprising victory in the Ghelamco Arena.
STVV: Suzuki – Van Helden, Smets, Godeau – Vanwesemael, Delorge, Ito, Bocat – Bertaccini, Koïta, Zahiroleslam.
KV MECHELEN: Thoelen, Walsh, Garananga, Bates, Foulon, Konaté, Mukau, Schoofs, Pflücke, Mrabti, Slimani.
Replacements: 46′ Walsh by Bolingoli, 72′ Godeau by Janssens, 72′ Zahiroleslam by Kaya, 72′ Bertaccini by Yamamoto, 74′ Slimani by Lauberbach, 74′ Pflücke by Bafdili, 80′ Konaté by Van Hecke, 83′ Ito by Fujita , 91′ Koïta by Okazaki, 95′ Foulon by Asante.
Goals: 9′ Konaté 0-1, 18′ Bertaccini 1-1, 39′ Bertaccini 2-1.
Yellow cards: Janssens (foul), .
Referee: Ken Vermeiren.
Spectators: 3,680. (gus)
