Antwerp does what it needs to do in Bosuil: a cup holder puts KV Oostende aside with ease on the way to Heysel

KVO

Ants

17' – Goal – George Ilyinichina (1 – 0)
27' – Goal – Zeno van den Bosch (2 – 0)

62' – Continue. David Atanga by Robbie de Haise
62' – Continue. Ewan Henderson by Daniel Perez
64' – Yellow – Sebin Dewailly
71' – continued. Brent Lace by Cedric Van Daele
71' – continued. Alphonse Amadi by Maxime d'Arpino
71' – continued. Jacob Ondrejka by Jürgen Ekelenkamp
77' – Continue. Vincent Janssen by Victor Udoh
83' – Yellow – Daniel Perez
89' – Goal – George Ilyinichina (3 – 0)
90+2' – Continue. Al-Hassan Yusuf by Elliot Matazzo
90+2' – Continue. Toby Alderweireld from Soumela Coulibaly

Sketch Cup – Round 2 – 02/29/24 – 20:46

time	player	home time	com. homePlayer	a result
17'	George Ilyinichina	17'	George Ilyinichina	1 – 0
27'	Zeno van den Bosch	27'	Zeno van den Bosch	2 – 0
89'	George Ilyinichina	89'	George Ilyinichina	3 – 0

mission accomplished. Antwerp has put an end to the KV Ostend Cup fairy tale. The cup holder was too big for a second grader. Ilinykhina (2x) and Van den Bosch put up clear numbers. Fans of The Great Old can already look forward to the titanic duel with competition leader Union.

Antwerp – KV Oostende in brief:

Key moment: The return match was played half an hour ago. Zeno van den Bosch scores Antwerp's second goal with a header against the ropes. Fans in Bosuil can already smell King Baudouin Stadium.

Man of the match: Antwerp showed tonight that the team was simply two classes stronger than KVO. George Ilyinichina himself was crowned the winner of the match with two important goals.

Title renewal? Antwerp could be preparing for a trip to King Baudouin Stadium for the second year in a row. If they can also extend their cup title, they will be the first team to do so since Club Brugge in 1996.

The type of match in which only the defending champion can lose.

Antwerp's poor performance on the coast frustrated the playing group three weeks ago. Gili Bataille (formerly KVO) of all people described the draw as an “embarrassing show”.

However, no one doubted qualifying for a return to Boswell, which was inevitable.

Bataille – just like the cunning and intelligent Jansen – showed himself to be very energetic in the first minutes. They got going quickly and combined dramatically, but a struggling KV Oostende side remained upright after the first wave of attacks.

Ilyinichina did not advance from a cross from the right back, but rather from a set-piece attack. The striker reacted quickest to the loose ball after a corner kick and scored the goal 1-0.

Ten minutes later, Van den Bosch scored the second goal, heading past Gabriel. A deserved lead for the home team, which was too strong for Ostend.

With a foot and a half ahead of Heysel, Antwerp controlled the match until the final whistle. The Second Division side's final cramps were expertly eliminated to ensure their ticket to the final.

Ilinykhina eventually spoiled the home fans with a buffalo punch for a 3-0 score. Only Vincent Janssen's withdrawal due to a (minor?) injury was the only blemish on a perfect evening.

Just like last year, Clan No. 1 can prepare for the final battle. A big opponent awaits in May, competition leader Union.

Van Bommel: “This is how it should be for Antwerp”

Mark van Bommel (Antwerp coach): “This is how it should be: to show from the beginning that you are the strongest team. This is just a good victory. Football sometimes needs to improve, but if you look at our situation, you just have to be happy with the situation we are in.” “Being in the final for two years Back to back doesn't happen very often. What Union does in Europe doesn't matter at all. Only if they reach the semi-finals will it be postponed. Or will the Belgian Cup take priority? “Next Sunday will be very important again in the race for the playoffs.”

Jamath Shofner (KVO coach): “We knew it was going to be a difficult task. I noticed the difference. Antwerp were a little quicker with every ball and in every match. However, I am proud of my boys because they kept fighting. Now it is important to ensure that I stay in the team. Competition. I have to thank the fans for being here In such large numbers.”

George Ilyinichina (Antwerp): “I am very satisfied with my goal. The cup final is an important goal, just like reaching the European Champions League play-off. We have now qualified for the final battle, and the next step is to win.”

Robbie Dicey (KV Ostend): “I think you saw that Antwerp were much better than us. If you concede two goals in the standing phase, which is usually our strength, you know it will be difficult. We also had to deal with the pressure at home, but we swallowed it.” It's the second goal. We gave everything, so we can't blame ourselves. “I wish that for Gillies Bataille, he is my best friend.”

Stage after stage

Not only an honor for Ostend

Darbino tries to save Ostend's honor with a powerful shot. Lammens refuses to let the goal go and jumps. He doesn't have to intervene, because the ball flies past his cage.

Ilinykhina nods a wonderful cross into the goal: 3-0

Ilinykhina advances the climax: 3-0

Udoh makes up for his mistake earlier and crosses well. Ilenikhena dives for the ball and puts it 3-0 on the board.

Udoh storms across the field onto the table. Young talent loses the general outlook and chooses solo work. Wrong choice, because it stumbles.

Lammence clips a high ball from Dewailly. It looks like the young goalkeeper will get his first clean sheet of the season.

Vincent Janssen to the side

Vincent Janssen no longer feels quite fit. The Dutchman had previously stretched his legs while sitting on the grass, but now Van Bommel has taken him to the side.

Three 'quarter minutes' from Ostend doesn't constitute a great chance, but it shows that the visitors are not giving up. A weak shot from Amadi ended the attack, which lasted for minutes.

Yetta Claytone

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Antwerp does what it needs to do in Bosuil: a cup holder puts KV Oostende aside with ease on the way to Heysel

Antwerp – KV Oostende in brief:

Van Bommel: “This is how it should be for Antwerp”