Union can quietly watch from the seat how the competitors will do, because the leader in the Jupiler Pro League completed his task in Kortrijk. The match seemed to be heading for a division of points, but suddenly Deniz Undav shook a miraculous kick from his calves.
KV Kortrijk – Union in a nutshell:
- Key moment: After a match day on the penalty bench, Deniz Undav made his comeback at Union and how! With a wonderful goal in the final phase, he gave the competition leader the full loot at the last minute.
- Man of the match: The beauty prize is undoubtedly for Undav, but in the first half the striker was invisible. A whole match on the appointment: Casper Nielsen. The Dane made the 1-1 with a handsome place ball and also provided the assist for Kandouss’s 1-2.
- Remarkable: Union can present very strong figures outdoors. 15 away games resulted in no fewer than 12 victories. Only once did Union return home empty-handed, on the 5th match day at KV Mechelen. Racing Genk and Club Brugge had to settle for a point.
- Painful Series: Kortrijk has not yet had much fun in 2022. Of the 10 league matches it has already played this year, it has only been able to win 1. Some nuance at the 6 out of 30 since the winter break: KVK has played against Gent, Club Brugge, Antwerp, Racing Genk and Union in recent weeks.
Nielsen quickly clears early backlog
Two goals in the opening quarter, it was indicative of a thrilling start. So sizzling that the lights went out at Kandouss after a few minutes. He just lost the ball to Selemani and the ex-Union player eagerly opened the gift. 1-0 and a dream start for Kortrijk.
A clever save by Ilic on a treacherous free kick by Teuma initially stood in the way of a quick equalizer, but barely 5 minutes after the opening goal it was finally scored. Nielsen brought Union alongside again with a nice place ball after a rehearsed number on a corner.
After those 2 goals in the opening quarter, it remained a nice game of football in the Guldenspoor Stadium. Both teams went all out for the win, although there were no great opportunities. Ilic went flat on a low bang from Lapoussin, on the other side Selemani aimed a free kick just wide.
Undav liberates Union with a beautiful goal
Union immediately took off in the second half, Kortrijk had to back up. Nieuwkoop came close to 1-2 twice. First Ilic whipped his header out of his goal with a brilliant reflex, then the Dutchman himself missed a huge opportunity for a corner kick that was headed through.
The 1-2 remained in the air and halfway the second half, Union also received a wage for work. Nielsen painted a free kick to the head of Kandouss and he corrected his earlier blunder himself with a good header. Kortrijk saw stars, Ilic prevented with another good save that Teuma made it 1-3.
The equalizing goal came fifteen minutes before the end. After a nice one-two with the new come-in Henen, Selemani aimed his second of the evening in the far corner. Against the course of the game, it was so suddenly level again.
A new loss of points was therefore imminent for Union, but that had not been calculated for Undav. He made the difference in the final phase with a wonderful goal. He cleverly turned the crescent away from Radovanovic and aimed the ball nicely into the intersection. Rotten in effect and a feast for the eyes.
Undav: “Lucky goal, but glad I was able to score like that”
- Deniz Undav (Union): “We knew it was going to be a difficult game, especially with the home fans against us. We tried to play our own game. We created a lot of chances and could have scored more, but I’m happy with the three points. I had a hard time in the half. I wanted to help Cameron (Puertas, ed.) because it was the first time he played as a striker. It was difficult because he didn’t understand me. In the second half I was able to communicate in English with Kozlowski and then you also saw that it went better. I scored a lucky goal, I’m happy that I could score in such a way and the ball went in so nicely. For me the most important thing is that we get the three points here We want to stay in first place now, but we don’t feel any pressure. Union champion? You never know.”
- Felice Mazzu (Union Trainer): “We are very proud that we are now certain of our place in the Champions’ Play-offs. That was already the case before the match and we wanted to play a great game, after a lesser period in terms of points. We have a lot of character today It was a difficult first half. After such a give-away goal, it is not easy to win here. Based on our second half and the chances we created in it, it is a deserved victory. Even if we take the three here points with an alien goal.”
- Karim Belhocine (coach Kortrijk): “We started the game well. Unfortunately, we swallow that equalizer at a time when we were ten on the field. That is frustrating. Union then took the lead on a new stagnant phase, but we have returned to character. fought the match. That beautiful goal from Undav ultimately ensures that we are left empty-handed. We played many games in which we created many opportunities, but where the efficiency was lacking. We have to keep working.”
