Both Bryan Reynolds and Griffin Yow were in Westerlo’s starting line-up when they welcomed OH Leuven to Het Kuipje on this chilly Tuesday evening. The Gamecocks were still looking for their first play-off win and despite taking the lead half-way through the first half, a case of “butterfingers” by their keeper Nick Gillekens gifted OHL the equalizer the goal that would allow them to share the points.
It took only three minutes for the first shot at goal when OHL’s captain Mathieu Maertens smashed one from the top of the box but lacking composure, it ended up on the wrong side of the crossbar. Another Leuven half chance eight minutes later saw Hamza Mendyl put a half decent cross into Westerlo’s box but Gillekens reacted the quickest and snatched it.
Westerlo then had a couple of forays down the field however, in the final third their finishing was far from impressive. Well, that was until they won a corner kick that Doğucan Haspolat delivered into the 18-yard-box and watched Ravil Tagir rise above the crowd and head it past a befuddled Tobe Leysen for the lead in the 24th minute.
A half dozen minutes later Jonatan Braut Brunes thought he had got his team back on level terms when he picked up the ball in the middle of the park and danced his way down the field, past defenders and into the box, where he finished in Messi-esque fashion. The celebrations were about to get underway until the Norwegian saw the linesman raise his flag.
Before the half, both sides traded chances with Maertens low shot saved by Gillekens, then Richie Sagrado wishing he had done better with his effort. Leuven tried to go in at the half on par but when Siebe Schrijvers pulled the trigger from outside the box, Yow jumped in front of him to take the sting out of the shot.
At the start of the second half, there was one change made with Bryan Reynolds coming off and Edison Jordanov taking his place.
“I’ve had a bit of a hamstring problem recently,” the American defender told YA post game. “And then I made a pretty big and long run, and I started to feel it after so it (the change) was to not risk an injury.”
Jordanov was soon involved in the action when he charged forward and laid off the ball for Lucas Stassin but the Belgian’s effort sailed over the goalmouth. Then it was Leuven’s turn again. With a long-range free kick, Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson hit a powerful shot but straight down the keeper’s throat.
Just past the hour mark, Coach Bart Goor made two more changes, bringing on Allahyar Sayyadmanesh and Romeo Vermant in an attempt to bolster the Gamecocks attack, as Yow tormented the Leuven defense and almost reaped the award for his aggressive play but his touch was too heavy and Leysen got to the ball first.
As has become their trademark, Westerlo is just unable to hang onto the lead. The 76th minute was their undoing. Sub Youssef Maziz found Hamza Mendyl, who put the ball right on the goal line. Maertens was fractions of a second quicker to it than Gillekens and poked the ball through the Belgian keeper’s fingers.
“Some games this season we started off slow and conceded super early, so it kind of throws the game off,” said Reynolds. “But us scoring the first goal was nice. It’s a pity though that we always find a way to concede a goal, but overall it’s getting better and better.”
With half of the 10 play-off games now done and Westerlo 17 points behind group leaders Gent, there is no chance of overcoming the deficit. They continue to play knowing that Europe is no longer a possibility next season. The team continues to give its all however.
“Individually, you’ve got to play for yourself because you always want to play good it games. It’s not that there’s nothing to play; play for the pride of the club and the pride in yourself. You go 100% no matter what.”
The American guys will have their hands full on Saturday night when they head to Gent to take on the first place Buffaloes. Kick off will be 8:45 p.m. Central European time.
