League

Staden Stadion
Spectators: 6600 (Terracing: 5000, Seating: 1500, VIP seats: 100) The sun was shining, the grass was green and the audience cheered when Freek Schoenmaekers got the match started through his kick off. With a couple of smart ball manuevers Mike De Reijck in the 5th managed to get into a good position. With a left leg Wilfried Roussel saved Staden from getting behind. Freek Schoenmaekers fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 8th minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Wilfried Roussel having to interfere. Freek Schoenmaekers sent away a hard shot on goal in the 10th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. After having played for 13 minutes, Lennart Louckx managed to get in a good position for a shot on goal. Staden's supporters crossed their fingers, but Lennart Louckx was, after a quick turn that froze the defenders, out of balance and shot the ball just to the right of the goal. If Joe Van Eycke had kept his shot down it would have been a goal in the 14th minute. The ball went over the crossbar and out instead. In the 16th minute, Conrad Leclerq hit a crossing free kick to the open man running down the field. Joe Van Eycke recieved an excellent pass in front of the goal in the 18th minute. Unfortunately, he received the ball on his off foot and could only manage a weak shot that went over the goal. After 19 minutes, Viktor Lievens mouthed his way into the referee's book. The tension between the Staden and the FC Nieuwpoort players grew even worse after the yellow card. FC Nieuwpoort's Mike De Reijck got a good chance for a goal in the 22nd minute, but he totally mistimed the shot and it went over the crossbar. Freek Schoenmaekers received a nice pass in the box and took a hard shot in the 25th minute. Wilfried Roussel tensed up and prepared to dive, but the shot went over the goal with him having to interfere. Mike De Reijck might have been able to make a better finish in the 27th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Wilfried Roussel. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Mike De Reijck ran back to his position shaking his head. Wilfried Roussel showed brilliant goalkeeper skills when he caught the ball after a hard shot from Mike De Reijck in the 30th minute of the match. Joe Van Eycke fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 32nd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Loid Callens having to interfere. Joe Van Eycke sent away a hard shot on goal in the 37th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. 40 minutes into the game, Dimitry Marrant was given a yellow card after he appeared to trip an opposing player. FC Nieuwpoort's manager was livid on the sidelines, but the referee was unmoved and gave Staden the free kick. In the 40th match minute, FC Nieuwpoort was awarded a freekick, the ball was picked up by Dimitry Marrant to maneuver through the defense. Joe Van Eycke fired away a screaming shot towards the goal in the 43rd minute, but the shot went just over the crossbar without Loid Callens having to interfere. Perry Van Meerbeec sent away a hard shot on goal in the 45th 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.

In the 56th minute Freek Schoenmaekers shot on, it seemed, an open goal, but Wilfried Roussel saw the ball coming and threw himself on it before it passed the goal line. Freek Schoenmaekers sent away a hard shot on goal in the 65th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Wilfried Roussel showed his good apprehension of the play when he made a fantastic save on a shot from Freek Schoenmaekers, who was totally free with the ball in the 68th minute. The supporters of Staden booed when FC Nieuwpoort was adjudged a doubtful freekick after 69 match minutes in a wonderful position. Evert-Jan De Raedemaecker didn't get a good kick on the ball. 70 minutes into the match, Staden's Nestor Rokeloos broke free and took a long shot that unfortunately flew wide. A fine initiative that could have resulted in a goal. After a rather tough play, FC Nieuwpoort's Robbrecht Maerschalks got a free kick in the 71st minute. Mike De Reijck sent away a hard shot on goal in the 84th minute, but the ball went just over the crossbar and out. A very good chance. Joe Van Eycke might have been able to make a better finish in the 87th minute when he tried to place a hard shot over Loid Callens. Instead the ball went over the crossbar and out. Joe Van Eycke ran back to his position shaking his head. In the 87th minute, Perry Van Meerbeec ran past the defenders and hit a shot which went straight ahead into goal. Loid Callens was frozen by the shot and now it was 1-1. The final whistle blew with the score still tied, and both teams left the pitch thinking about the missed chances that could have given their team the win.