RSCA not able to beat KV Mechelen

On the 25th matchday of the regular competition, KV Mechelen visited the Astridpark. Lukasz Teodorczyk and Francis Amuzu were ill, winter transfer Ryota Morioka and youngster Nelson Azevedo Janelas made their Purple & White debut before the home supporters. The match and the previous home game against Waasland-Beveren were somewhat alike, as the Purple & White got stuck at a 2-2 draw again, after having missed a penalty at the end of the game.

The visitors were soon dangerous on a corner, but they did not manage to score. After a slow opening of the game, RSCA took the lead in the tenth minute. Olivier Deschacht sent a deep ball to Morioka and the Japanase player gave an assist to Silvère Ganvoula, who scored his first Purple & White goal with a header: 0-1. Five minutes later on, the equalizer was scored on the other side. Sels first made the save on a shot by Matthys, but in the rebound Hassane Bandé put in the 1-1. In minute 22, KV Mechelen took the lead after Uros Spajic unfortunately scored an own goal. After thirty minutes of play, the visitors were dangerous again. Bandé reached Matthys at the far post, whose header went wide. The Purple & White had trouble pushing through the Mechelen defence. At half-time, then, the score was still 1-2.

Coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck carried through two substitutions at the start of the second half. Pieter Gerkens and Alexandru Chipciu replaced Sambi Lokonga and Azevedo Janelas. Schoofs went through the Purple & White defence, but then hit Sels. In minute 57, the score was tied again. Deschacht reached Ganvoula, who scored again with a header. KV Mechelen was not able to take advantage of a free kick somewhat later on, Matthys’ kick went wide. On a new Mechelen attack, Dendoncker nicely intervened. Matthys then took a swing from the edge of the box, but his attempt went wide. In the final fifteen minutes, a centre by Appiah ended up with Ganvoula, who did not manage to score with a third header. In the 80th minute, referee Dierick awarded a penalty to RSCA. Morioka took his responsibility, but the ball went wide. After that, Saief threatened, but his shot went across the goal. In the final stages of the match, Mohammed Dauda made his debut, but he could not turn things around anymore. After three minutes of injury time, the game ended in a draw. For RSCA, this was the third draw in a row after Waasland-Beveren and Standard, as a result of which they have only taken 3 out of 9 points. On Saturday 10 February, the Purple & white will visit KV Oostende.

RSCA : Matz Sels, Dennis Appiah, Olivier Deschacht, Uros Spajic, Kenny Saief, Sven Kums, Leander Dendoncker, Ryota Morioka (88' Mohammed Dauda), Albert Sambi Lokonga (46' Pieter Gerkens), Nelson Azevedo Janelas (46' Alexandru Chipciu) & Silvère Ganvoula.

Goals : 10' Ganvoula (1-0), 15' Bandé (1-1), 22' Spajic (own goal 1-2) & 56' Ganvoula (2-2).

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