Before the arrival of the Rouches, Thorsten Fink clearly did not intend to shake up his typical team again as he did in Mechelen. The STVV coach brought his strongest eleven to the kick-off with the aim of striking immediately. Due to the absence of the Japanese promising internationals, a place became available for youngsters Nhaili and Teuchy. The latter became the seventh youth product to be included in the core this season.
There was great dissatisfaction among the fans of opponent Standard about the poor start in these Europe Play-offs – 1 out of 6 and only one goal scored. The fans from Liège who traveled along showed this with a twelve-minute ‘singing strike’. Ex-STVV coach Ivan Leko only made one, forced substitution with Price for the injured Fossey.
© Dick Demey
Jersey dream start
It was at Stayen that Standard’s dramatic season started with a 1-0 defeat against the Canaries. That score was already on the board yesterday after exactly 3 minutes and 25 seconds when Bocat got the better of Bodart in the first best attack on a pass from Ito: 1-0 and a dream start for STVV.
It seemed to be the harbinger of a long evening for the visitors, but the signs were put back up just as quickly. The lively Canak forced Suzuki into a save, Kanga followed well to tap in the rebound from close range: 1-1, the equalizer could not even be called undeserved. The STVV defense had a hard time with the high pressing of the Liège team, pushed forward by a fanatically coaching Leko on the sidelines.
The Liège supporters’ protest was over and the decibels from the visitors’ section skyrocketed. It inspired the people of Liège to continue their eager momentum, although the Canaries also had opportunities in the intense first half. Koita kicked narrowly wide, Ito saw his attempt saved by Bodart. On the other side, Suzuki kept STVV upright on attempts by Price and Balikwisha.
© Dick Demey
Double cold shower
The game could have gone either way in the second half and STVV had an excellent opportunity to take control early on. After a VAR intervention, the ball hit the spot after slight contact between Smets and Sahabo. Koita got behind it, but Bodart chose the right angle and kept Standard upright. The double cold shower followed a few minutes later when Balikwisha coolly and beautifully finished a sharp counterattack with a volley: 1-2.
The Canaries seemed affected and the attacking game was not going well. Stayen called for Bertaccini, Fink didn’t budge at first but brought his joker into the field with just under fifteen minutes to play. At that moment, the Rouches, who had folded back, had organized themselves strongly defensively and they easily absorbed the yellow-blue attack waves. When Kanga then punished a back pass from Janssens that was too short, all hope of Truien’s points gain seemed to have disappeared.
© Dick Demey
Kaya breaks the curse
Yet Bertaccini lit the flame again with his first goal as a Canary. Stayen thundered and shouted the Canaries forward. That actually led to the equalizer. Fatih Kaya, of all people, saved a point with a diagonal slider, his relief was rightly immense after a two-season drought.
In the twelve (!) minutes of injury time there was an appeal for a penalty on Bertaccini and on the other side on Kanga, in vain. The score remained 3-3, Truiense’s home reputation was preserved and the Canaries remained on course for the coveted seventh place after a match that will be remembered for a long time.
STVV: Suzuki, Ananou, Janssens, Smets, Godeau, Bocat, Steuckers, Delorge, Ito, Koïta, Zahiroleslam.
STANDARD: Bodart, Kawaba, Price, Yeboah, Kanga, Doumbia, Balikwisha, Sahabo, Laifis, Noubi, Canak.
SUBSTITUTIONS: 72′ Yeboah by Sowah; 79′ Ananou by Vanwesemael; 79′ Koita by Bertaccini; 79′ Canak by Fini; 83′ Zahiroleslam by Kaya; 83′ Godeau by Barnes; 90+2′ Balikwisha by Dewaele; 90+10 Ito by Dumont.
DOELPUNTEN: 4′ Bocat 1-0; 9′ Kanga 1-1; 59′ Baliquisha 1-2; 81′ Kanga 1-3; 84′ Bertaccini 2-3; 88′ Kaya 3-3.
PENALTY KICKS: 57′ Koita (missed).
YELLOW CARDS: 13′ Koita (spoilage); 24′ Ananou (foul); 56′ Laifis (protest); 65′ Price (foul); 72′ Yeboah (foul); 89′ Kanga; 89’Barnes; 60+6′ Bertaccini (protest).
RED CARDS: None.
SPECTATORS: 5,956
REFEREE: Wesli De Cremer.