Deniz Undav. He again. With a hat-trick he set Union on the way to a simple 1-4 victory in Leuven. Club knows what to do – win – otherwise Union will start the play-offs as league leader anyway.
“Lucky”, Deniz Undav called his world goal from last week in the Guldenspoor Stadium in Kortrijk. An explanation we didn’t quite agree with: after all, you need a certain ball control and class to pull off like that, combined with a portion of windfall. What the top scorer did yesterday, however, had nothing to do with luck. Lazare’s cross was perfect, after which Undav deviated into goal with a controlled volley. 1-1 just before the half hour. wonderful.
The 1-2 was less spectacular, but those who know a little football also appreciate that goal. It was a real striker goal. Teuma swung the ball blindly in front, Undav was able to trump direct guard Dewaest at the first post, in order to work in with a fleeting tap. Union couldn’t have started the second half better.
Photo: BELGA
OH Leuven had to chase after it had taken the lead early. Just like last week, when he played the ball right into Selemani’s feet, Kandouss had a moment of bewilderment. He raised his arm high above his head, as if he were a volleyball player, and hit a cross away: penalty kick. Moris seemed to keep Union behind by parrying Schrijvers’ effort, but he had not stopped on his line. Schrijvers’ second attempt was unsuccessful.
Moris was terribly angry with his teammates after the 1-0, he thought they were performing too easy, after which Union reacted well. It was allowed to claim a penalty after a hand game by Keita, but the referee and the video ref ruled that it was a support arm and that the ball should not hit the spot. OH Leuven got away well there, just like Union on the other side, when Mercier brushed against the bar.
The tension before the break was completely gone at the Den Dreef around 10 pm. So first there was Undav with the 1-2, not much later Teuma was able to put Dewaest in the wind and make the 1-3. Undav gave OHL the death blow from eleven yards: 1-4.
Photo: BELGA
It’s hard to believe that Undav was still working in a factory in Germany a few years ago. The German was not even sure of a professional career then, today he is an indispensable link in the machine that is Union. Twenty-four goals, ten assists: those are numbers you can unpack. Undav is pure gold for Union.
Felice Mazzu is half Italian, who can be superstitious. In his own words, Mazzu is not that bad, which may not be a bad thing in this case: Union is now on thirteen unbeaten duels in a row, but that unlucky number does not have to be the end station. Certainly not all PhD students keep coming out like that. There are teams that stumble more easily against teams like OH Leuven. The fact that Union does not do that, even without its stronghold Vanzeir, proves once again that it really is a title candidate.
It just fits all lines well with the leader. Moris is a more than reliable capstone, the defense is usually solid, Casper Nielsen is perhaps the best six in our competition, the creative pawns Lazare, Teuma and Lapoussin combine work power with technique and vista and up front there is the inevitable Undav. And a super-motivated Vanzeir will soon be added.
Photo: BELGA
Now the pressure is on the competition again. Club must avoid that the gap is ten points after this weekend against Ostend. If blue-black doesn’t win, Union is already certain of the first place at the end of the regular competition. Did you dare to predict that?
