After beating Charleroi earlier this weekend, KV Kortrijk was the first team in Belgium to be certain that it would have to play play-off 3. At home against RWDM it could provide the hope in the run-up to those ‘Relegation play-offs’. And that resulted in a spectacular duel against the people of Brussels.
Charleroi has become unreachable for KV Kortrijk with 28 points. And so De Kerels have to make it happen in six extra matches to avoid relegation. A home match against RWDM seems to be a first indicator of those games at the cutting edge.
“Do or die. Eyes on the target,” said the Kortrijk supporters with a nice tifo. With a win, Kortrijk could move next to KAS Eupen in the standings and come within two points of number 14 RWDM, a place that would entitle them to a jump-off match against number 3 of the Challenger Pro League.
Lucas Pirard in goal at Kortrijk, Alberto in the team for Abe at RWDM
The West Flemish team did this with Lucas Pirard in goal again after Tom Vandenberghe was given a chance by Icelandic coach Freyr Alexandersson last week. Avenatti referred Bruno to the bench, while Alberto replaced Abe for the visitors.
© photonews
© photonews
In a very nervous match – the stakes of the match were enormous – it was the home team who quickly took the lead through Isaak Davies. He neatly punted a long ball that the entire RWDM missed into the goal.
However, the Brussels team leveled on a corner, with goalkeeper Pirard not looking too good – even though Lardot had to look at the screens on Lardot’s instructions. 1-1 was also the halftime score.
Three points of hope for Kortrijk: Kadri makes the difference twice
After coffee, Kortrijk went to war. Defourny had to fall flat a few times, but he also had to give in to a wonderful free kick from Kadri. Just over a minute later, Reine-Adelaïde made it 2-2 again at the other end.
Such a spectacle in the Guldenspoorstadion, where the difference was ultimately made from the spot. Kadri wrong-footed Defourny after a pulling error on Tsunoda. RWDM tried to come back a third time, but that would not work. The Guys take three extremely important points in the fight against relegation, RWDM is also in trouble.