In the 3rd round of the Belgian Pro League, in a tense and uncompromising match, Antwerp hosted Oud-Heverlee Leuven on their home turf. Throughout the game, both sides looked for chances to score, but in the end, as the home fans expected, the hosts claimed a convincing victory.
The first half was relatively even, but in the 36th minute, Antwerp forward Michel-Ange Balikwisha opened the scoring with a beautiful strike, giving his team a psychological advantage. After this goal, the visitors tried to increase their activity, but the home side’s defense held firm.
In the second half, the hosts further showcased their dominance in the game. In the 78th minute, Mamadou Doumbia took advantage of the space in the opponent’s defense to make it 2-0. After this goal, Oud-Heverlee Leuven’s players gathered their strength and found hope again, managing to score in the 87th minute through Ewoud Pletinckx. The score of 2-1 brought intrigue back to the match.
However, the intrigue didn’t last long. In the seventh minute of stoppage time, Farouck Adekambi struck again, setting the final score at 3-1 and officially securing Antwerp’s first win of the season.
Another big highlight for the fans was that our compatriot, Muhammadali Urinboev, came off the bench in the 85th minute and played an active role in boosting his team’s attack.
For reference, after three rounds, Antwerp has collected 5 points and sits in 7th place in the Pro League. This victory will undoubtedly give them confidence and a morale boost in the upcoming matches.
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