Union end Charleroi’s unbeaten run

The Brussels side defeated unbeaten leaders Charleroi. Adem Zorgane opened the scoring early on, but the home side then took control and turned the game around. Just before half-time, Zorgane struck again to level the score, before Kamiel Van De Perre handed the three points to the visitors with a stunning goal after the break.

The match began with Union applying intense pressure. In the 12th minute, they unexpectedly took the lead. Zorgane started the move and played a one-two with Biondic. The Argentine continued the attack down the left flank and appeared to be looking for Guilherme with a cross. His shot took a deflection off Ousou’s leg and looped towards goal. Goalkeeper Koné made a costly error, inadvertently pushing the ball into his own net: 0-1.

Charleroi turn the game around

The Brussels side then took their foot off the gas, and it was not until the 24th minute that Charleroi produced a response. Romsaas played Van Den Kerkhof through. With no defender closing him down, he was able to get a free shot away. His effort was heading towards goal but struck the outside of the post.

Two minutes later, Charleroi did find the back of the net. Following a turnover by the Brussels side, Scheidler and Van Den Kerkhof combined brilliantly. The ball eventually fell to Mbemba, who was completely unmarked on the left flank, and he fired an unstoppable effort into the net: 1-1.

Union immediately responded. Florucz brilliantly dribbled past his marker before unleashing a powerful shot. Koné made the save, and Kricfalusi had a chance from the rebound, but his effort went wide.

Charleroi then went on to take the lead. Romsaas and Scheidler combined superbly to cut through the Brussels defence, before Pflücke finished the move at the far post: 1-2.

Zorgane and Van De Perre restore Union’s lead

The goal fest was not over yet. Less than a minute later, the Union players showed their fighting spirit. From Zeneli’s free-kick, the ball was headed back into the path of Zorgane. He controlled it before drilling a low finish into the bottom-left corner: 2-2.

Immediately after the restart, Union regained the lead. The Brussels side executed a rehearsed set-piece routine from a corner. Zeneli played the ball centrally to Van De Perre, who was left unmarked outside the box. He curled a superb effort into the top-left corner: 2-3.

Union then took complete control of the match and produced 15 minutes of outstanding football. Zeneli threatened the Charleroi defence, while Florucz curled an effort from outside the box towards goal in almost identical fashion to Van De Perre. However, his shot crashed against the crossbar.

Late pressure

On the hour mark, Charleroi threatened again. Nzita delivered a cross and Van Den Kerkhof found Ousou, but the defender somehow fired over from close range. It was a golden opportunity to equalise.

At the other end, Union came close to a fourth goal. Mac Allister first dribbled past several defenders like a genuine centre-forward. Substitute De Roeve then powered a cross into the box from the right flank, and fellow substitute Olaru tried to turn the ball home, but narrowly failed to make contact.

In the closing stages, Union had one final scare. Havenaar was blinded by the low sun and almost headed an opposition cross into his own goal. Fortunately for the Japanese defender, the ball bounced off the crossbar and away from danger.

The victory sends Union temporarily to the top of the table with 13 points from a possible 15.