League

Het Chiroplein
Spectators: 4500 (Terracing: 3000, Seating: 1500, VIP seats: 0) KV Chiro's Jan-Pieter Tijs started the match with a crisp pass. The crowd had been anticipating this game for weeks and the excitement in the stadium was easily visible. After 6 minutes, Wart de Neys mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the KV Chiro and the RC Mechelen players grew even worse after the yellow card. Wart de Neys hit a great freekick 7 minutes into the match. RC Mechelen's Marcus Du Bois got a good chance for a goal in the 9th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Stefaan Van den Driesch made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Arnold Bormans in the 10th minute of play. 12 minutes into the match, RC Mechelen's goal looked a bit too open when Jan-Pieter Tijs came free, but Dany-Adams Van den Haute reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. After a rather tough play, RC Mechelen's Frank De Raemaekers got a free kick in the 15th minute. Arnaud Van Kamp charged in rather forcefully in the 17th minute of the match, and managed to knock his opponent down. The referee showed Arnaud Van Kamp the yellow card, and asked the players to shake hands before continuing play. In the 18th minute, Arnaud Van Kamp hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Wart de Neys was probably a little too eager to shoot when he, in the 18th played minute, shot the ball from way out. The shot was hard, but the ball flew wide of the goal. After a defensive mix-up in KV Chiro's zone, Arnold Bormans stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Stefaan Van den Driesch came out of the goal and Arnold Bormans tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. After some fancy dribbling in the 36th minute, Arnold Bormans managed to get in a good position for a shot. RC Mechelen's supporters rose to their feet, but Arnold Bormans was a bit off balance and shot the ball just wide of the left post. Stefaan Van den Driesch breathed a sigh of relief and went to take the goal kick. Marcus Du Bois received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 37th minute. Stefaan Van den Driesch tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. In the 39th minute of the match Roben Omblets shot from a long distance. The ball could have gone into the goal to the right of the goalkeeper, but Stefaan Van den Driesch showed his good shape when he easily got hold of the ball. After 41 played minutes, RC Mechelen's Roben Omblets shot from a long distance, and at first it looked like the ball was going into the goal, but the goalkeeper Stefaan Van den Driesch came through and got his fingers on the ball before it flew over the goal line. He then quickly gripped the ball tighter before the forwards in RC Mechelen reached it.

Both teams looked relatively alert before the second half when the referee blew his whistle to tell Arnold Bormans to make the kick off. 52 minutes into the match, KV Chiro's goalkeeper Stefaan Van den Driesch had to clear away a ball on his right side after a cunning shot by Marcus Du Bois. With a little luck, KV Chiro's Stefaan Van den Driesch got control of the ball when Arnold Bormans tried to sneak it across the goal line. Dany-Adams Van den Haute showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Fernand Neirynck, who was totally free with the ball in the 56th minute. 59 minutes into the match, KV Chiro's goal looked a bit too open when Arnold Bormans came free, but Stefaan Van den Driesch reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Arnold Bormans blasted a shot towards the goal in the 62nd minute, but the shot hit the top of the crossbar and went out without Stefaan Van den Driesch having to make a save. Dany-Adams Van den Haute showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Fernand Neirynck in the 72nd minute of the match. When RC Mechelen's Arnold Bormans in the 75th minute got a chance for a shot 75th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye KV Chiro's goalie prevented a goal. When Marcus Du Bois came up free with the goalie in the 82nd minute, the RC Mechelen fans jumped to their feet. But the shot missed the goal by a fraction of an inch, and the fans sat back down disappointed that Marcus Du Bois couldn't finish the play. After a defensive mix-up in KV Chiro's zone, Marcus Du Bois stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Stefaan Van den Driesch came out of the goal and Marcus Du Bois tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. A collision led to RC Mechelen getting a freekick after 91 minutes play. Arnaud Van Kamp hit a great ball. Marcus Du Bois sent away a hard shot on goal in the 94th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. For all the effort they put into the match, the RC Mechelen players left disappointed. They had fought hard, but couldn't break down the home team's defense. The match ended in a win for KV Chiro.