Standard de Liège – Union SG: 2-3

Our Unionists had to visit Standard in a sold-out Sclessin on this last day of the first half of the season before the international break. It would prove not to be an easy task, but with a victory, it would clinch second place in the league table.

Neither team could get a shot on target in the opening fifteen minutes. Union did increase the pressure as the game progressed. A possible goal was in the air and it was the visitors who would benefit from it just before the half-hour mark. The ball was not cleared properly in the box and Vanzeir was able to hit it hard on the volley, 0-1 (24′). Before the break, Standard wanted to level the score, but Union held them off and the score remained the same.

The home fans were urging their side to press forward as they were awarded a penalty. After a VAR check, a goal for Standard from the penalty spot as Noë Dusenne made it 1-1 (53′). Standard pushed on and almost took the lead. However, Burgess had other ideas as he headed in a cross from Teddy Teuma hard into the net, 1-2 (65′). A little over the hour, Union took the lead again.

This exciting game could have gone either way as the match progressed. Just before extra time, Teuma sent Vanzeir deep, who brought in a good cross for Dennis Eckert. He smartly found Nieuwkoop in front of goal, who managed to extend the lead to 1-3. That seemed to be the final score for a while, but after another VAR check, the ball was placed on the penalty spot again for Standard. Zinckernagel made it another exciting end, 2-3 (90+6′). Standard could not salvage any points from this fixture as Union went on to win the game.

Our Unionists climb to second place in the league table with this superb victory!

We will see each other again at the end of December for our double confrontation against KV Oostende.

Allez l’Union !