Ohio Lovin keeps points at home against KV Oostende, Mercer makes the difference with a cunning free kick

Jupiler Pro LeagueA row flash by Xavier Mercier from a free kick. OHL didn’t need more against KV Oostende to keep the three points at home. The residents of Leuven are achieving their third win of the season and are gradually moving up the rankings.

The OHL team has not lost in six straight games and appeared in good shape, although Mark Price and his teammates were hoping for a win after eight draws. KV Oostende missed Gueye, Koziello and Ndicka due to suspensions and had to move around a lot at the start.

Visitors started the game better. A corner kick through a pair of legs fell into the hands of OHL goalkeeper Romo, who also fell well with a shot from Kvasina twenty minutes later. The OHL team gradually took over and took the lead via Ozkakar, but the VAR indicated that there was an offside there.

The home side looked a little swayed by this blow, but through Dewist’s header they still had the most chance in the first half. Hubbert took advantage of the attempt over his bar in the first half. Siby Schreigvers scored his first chance after the first half with a header, but Hubert was not surprised. On the flip side, Romo was also looking for a perverted bid from Bätzner.

What the OHL team has been missing this season are goals in the slack stages, one of Price’s trump cards last season. “Until Seba (Dewaest, editor) scores one inside,” the OHL coach said this week. It wasn’t Dewast, but captain Mercier who broke the spell by cleverly drawing a free kick – sparked by Tomari flashing again – over the wall after Hubert. Finally a bonus for all the statics that Leuven trained on. Tamari still put his side in trouble by receiving a second stupid yellow card for Schwalbe 10 minutes from time. KVO still came, but a header from Kvasina and a final try from D’Arpino, among others, couldn’t turn the tide. OHL wins for the third time this season and climbs to twelfth place provisionally, on par with KVO.