League

CDO Arerna
Spectators: 7633 (Terracing: 5726, Seating: 1755, VIP seats: 152) RC Mechelen's Izak Godts 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 a defensive mix-up in RC Mechelen's zone, Kenney Hennes stole the ball and had only the goalie to beat. Ritchie Render came out of the goal and Kenney Hennes tried to chip the ball over his head. To his dismay, the ball went over the crossbar and out of play. Sam-Lucas Neefs fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 5th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Ritchie Render having to interfere. When New Gen FC's Joseph De Werdt in the 7th minute got a chance for a shot 7th didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye RC Mechelen's goalie prevented a goal. Ritchie Render made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Sam-Lucas Neefs in the 11th minute of play. Kenney Hennes received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 18th minute. Ritchie Render tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. When Sam-Lucas Neefs fell near the penalty area in the 21st minute he thought he would be awarded a free kick. The referee ignored New Gen FC's protests and gave Sam-Lucas Neefs a yellow card for diving instead. The supporters of RC Mechelen booed when New Gen FC was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 21 match minutes in a wonderful position. Sam-Lucas Neefs didn't get a good kick on the ball. William Verbeeck came out of the goal in the 25th minute to try and stop a shot by RC Mechelen's Izak Godts. But to his dismay, Izak Godts quickly shot the ball in between his legs and into the goal making it 1-1. William Verbeeck showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Izak Godts, who was totally free with the ball in the 31st minute. Sam-Lucas Neefs received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 33rd minute. Ritchie Render tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. 40 minutes into the match, RC Mechelen's goal looked a bit too open when Sam-Lucas Neefs came free, but Ritchie Render reached the ball before it rolled over the goal line. Ritchie Render didn't have a chance when a screaming shot from Sam-Lucas Neefs went, in the 45th minute, to the upper right corner, 1-2 was the resulting score. Luck had favoured the away team in the first, and they walked off with a 1-2 lead.

The players of the home team were most fresh-looking when they entered the field to play the second half. Sam-Lucas Neefs was the one to do the kick off. 58 minutes into the game, Sam-Lucas Neefs cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 1-3. Ritchie Render was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Ritchie Render made a wonderful reflex save on a shot from Kenney Hennes in the 63rd minute of play. Kenney Hennes sent away a hard shot on goal in the 64th minute, but the ball hit the crossbar and went out. A very good chance for a goal. If Sam-Lucas Neefs had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 66th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. 69 minutes into the match, Sam-Lucas Neefs had an open shot that he just couldn't miss and scored to the right of Ritchie Render. RC Mechelen's manager could be seen yelling to the referee that Sam-Lucas Neefs was offside, but the referee ignored the protest. 1-4. After 74 played minutes New Gen FC got a freekick which was hit by Brent-Jan Stuijckens. 76 minutes into the game, Izak Godts cracked a shot to the right of the goalkeeper, 2-4. William Verbeeck was not in position, and could only watch the ball fly in. Sam-Lucas Neefs could have scored with his fast shot on goal in the 80th minute of the match, but Ritchie Render made a huge save. When New Gen FC's Kenney Hennes in the 81st minute got a chance for a shot 81st didn't hesitate and placed the ball to the right of the goalie. A beautiful save bye RC Mechelen's goalie prevented a goal. In the 83rd minute, Joseph De Werdt got an opportunity to score, but he didn't get a solid hit on the ball and ended up kicking it wide of the goal. In the 85th minute Kenney Hennes shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Ritchie Render saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. When Kenney Hennes came up free with the goalie in the 87th minute, the New Gen FC 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 Kenney Hennes couldn't finish the play. Ritchie Render made a fantastic save in the 89th minute, when Sam-Lucas Neefs sent off a good shot on target. William Verbeeck showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Arno Rauvoe, who was totally free with the ball in the 90th minute. The RC Mechelen fans had already started to leave before the final whistle blew. New Gen FC were clearly better and deserved to take the win.