Union hand Lommel a 5-0 defeat

At the Duden Park, Union Saint-Gilloise ran riot against promoted side Lommel. Zeneli and Mofokeng put the Unionistas two goals ahead inside the opening ten minutes. Lommel tried to fight their way back into the game, but second-half substitutes Hurtevent and Florucz completed a resounding 5-0 victory.

Union faced promoted Lommel SK for the first time this season. It had been more than seven years since Lommel had last beaten the Unionistas. The visitors tried to take control of the game from the outset, but their approach quickly backfired.

Union race into two-goal lead

The Unionistas opened the scoring after just three minutes. From a throw-in, Guilherme won possession and, following some quick passing, Mofokeng sent Biondic in behind the defence. The German then squared the ball across the box, allowing Zeneli to smash it into the far corner: 1-0.

Union were not satisfied with just one. Mac Allister played a ball into Biondic's path. The forward raced in behind and picked out Mofokeng. The South African made no mistake, calmly doubling Union's lead: 2-0.

Lommel looked to respond. In the 14th minute, the visitors registered their first shot on target. Talvitte broke into the box and got his effort away, but Koffi comfortably gathered the ball.

Mofokeng then came close to a third on two occasions. First, Lommel defender Van Duiven nearly turned the ball into his own net, but managed to clear it off the line before Mofokeng could finish. Moments later, Lommel goalkeeper Pieklak found himself one-on-one with Mofokeng and produced a superb split save to deny the Union forward a third.

Lommel try to fight back

Just before half-time, Lommel threatened again. Reyners unleashed a shot at goal, but Koffi got down well to keep it out and prevent Lommel from pulling one back.

Lommel came out of the dressing room with more purpose after the break, although the intensity of the game gradually dropped. Six minutes into the second half, Konuda tried to beat Sylla and create a shooting opportunity, but Sylla got in the way and blocked the attempt. In the 56th minute, Reyners had another chance, but his effort sailed well over the bar.

Substitutes complete the rout

On the hour mark, Union threatened again. Mac Allister rose highest at a corner and directed a header towards goal, but Pieklak was well positioned to make the save.

A few minutes later, substitute Hurtevent made it three for Union. He had barely been on the pitch when he found himself through on goal and one-on-one with Pieklak. Hurtevent kept his composure and slotted the ball past the goalkeeper to make it 3-0.

Ten minutes later, Hurtevent was through on goal again. He tried to finish first time, but Pieklak stood tall to deny him. Hurtevent came close to a second goal once more in the 80th minute.

Substitute Florucz then made it 4-0 for Union. The Austrian timed his run perfectly to beat the Lommel defensive line, and Hurtevent picked him out with an excellent pass. Florucz raced through one-on-one with the goalkeeper and finished with composure.

Deep into stoppage time, Florucz completed the rout, finding the net for a second time to make it 5-0. The emphatic victory gives the Unionistas a major confidence boost ahead of Thursday's Europa League clash with Viktoria Plzeň.