League

Berchem
Spectators: 7557 (Terracing: 5707, Seating: 1750, VIP seats: 100) Joseph Smets started the match with the kick off in front of an excited audience. K.V Mechelen's Billie Stroobans played magnificently when he managed to stop the ball from hitting the goal, after a sharp shot by Joseph Smets in the 3rd minute of play. 4 minutes into the game, Joseph Smets cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 0-1. Billie Stroobans was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. If Joseph Smets had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 13th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. Mario Van den Haute sent away a hard shot on goal in the 15th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Robbie Roels's late challenge caught a FC Barcelona's player on the shin and left him crawling around in pain. The referee blew his whistle and produced the yellow card. Robbie Roels helped the player get up and apologised. When Joseph Smets came up free with the goalie in the 18th minute, the FC Barcelona 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 Joseph Smets couldn't finish the play. An unexpectedly hard shot by Mario Van den Haute in the 23rd minute of play forced K.V Mechelen's goalkeeper Billie Stroobans to throw himself to the left, to be able to save the ball. In the 25th minute, Yoachim Vercauteren made a precise shot to the right of Albertus Neirynck. FC Barcelona's defense was at fault, and the scoreboard reflected the new score, 1-1. If Yoachim Vercauteren had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 29th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 34th minute Joseph Smets shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Billie Stroobans saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Billie Stroobans stood for a superb save when he managed to get hold of Mario Van den Haute's shot from short distance in the 38th minute. Mats Van Gestel kicked well hit freekick during the 41st minute of the match. After having played for 42 minutes, Camiel De Langhe managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. FC Barcelona's supporters crossed their fingers, but Camiel De Langhe was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. Joseph Smets sent away a hard shot on goal in the 46th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a very even first half the match was still tied. The players went to their respective dressing rooms to discuss the tactics for the second half.

When the second half was about to start, both teams quickly lined up and Frits Govaerts made a kick off. Mario Van den Haute sent away a hard shot on goal in the 59th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After a rather tough play, K.V Mechelen's Robbie Roels got a free kick in the 61st minute. After some careless play in the K.V Mechelen defense, Joseph Smets kicked a shot that curved into the net to the right of Billie Stroobans. The K.V Mechelen fans voiced their displeasure as they felt that Billie Stroobans should have stopped the shot. FC Barcelona's Joseph Smets got a good chance for a goal in the 69th minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Joseph Smets fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 71st minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Billie Stroobans having to interfere. A collision led to K.V Mechelen getting a freekick after 73 minutes play. Will Raedemaeckers hit a great ball. Billie Stroobans took care of the ball after a well-directed shot from Joseph Smets, even though the ball almost passed him on his left side. Billie Stroobans showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Joseph Smets, who was totally free with the ball in the 86th minute. 94 minutes into the match, K.V Mechelen's goal looked a bit too open when Arne Andries came free, but Billie Stroobans reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. The K.V Mechelen fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. FC Barcelona were clearly better and deserved to take the win.