This was the second time in a row that Eupen faced Charleroi in their battle to avoid relegation and the outcome was the same on both occasions with the Zebras coming away with the win; last week in Charleroi with a 1-0 victory and this weekend a 2-1 victory at Kehrweg Stadium.
Gabriel Slonina kept his starting spot between the Pandas’ sticks, starting for the 31st time in his Pro League career. The outcome however was much like most of them, with his side coming away with a loss.
Antoine Bernier got the scoring underway after just 11 minutes, followed by Oday Dabbagh who struck what turned out to be the game winner just minutes before the intermission. Eupen came alive in the second half and got one back through Bartosz Bialek with the Polish attacker scoring his first ever league goal.
The visitors were determined to get things underway from the kickoff and within the first minute Slonina was picking the ball out of the air after a few offensive headers inside his box ended with an attempt at goal.
Minutes later, a terrible tackle by Parfait Guiagon on Isaac Nuhu stopped the Eupener from charging down field with the ball. Instead of a deserved yellow card, referee Bert Put gave the Ivorian a stern finger wagging. A penalty shout for Eupen minutes later was not given but instead Mr. Put got his wagging finger out again.
And then it happened, in the 11th minute to be precise when Vetle Dragsnes brought the ball up the left wing and crossed it into the top of the box. A couple of quick Charleroi flicks and it was at Bernier’s feet. The Belgian got his shot off quickly passed a diving Slonina placing it just inside the far post.
A 29th minute header on target by Daan Heymans was grabbed by Slonina and sent down the field. At the other end Eupen had their best chance of the game but all that Gary Magnee’s shot did was rattle the crossbar. And again the American was called on to make a save down the other end though Dabbagh’s shot took a hard deflection, making the grab quite simple.
In the 41st minute it happened again and this was the goal that eventually was the game winner for Charleroi. After a foray around the Eupen goal, the ball was cleared, but not exactly. Achraf Dari’s long range shot came off an Eupen defender so when Dabbagh reacted fastest and latched on from close range, he appeared to be in an offside position. Due to the defender being involved, it was adjudged to be onside and a goal.
It appeared that a different Eupen team emerged from the tunnel to start the second half and threatened after just three minutes and Gary Magnee should have done better with his shot inside the 18 yard box but he pulled it wide of the near post. Then Regan Charles-Cook went down in the box and the crowd begged the referee for a penalty but, no finger wagging but also no penalty.
The hosts pushed and pushed and in the 81st minute finally breached the Charleroi goal. It was scored, thanks to a bit of bad judgement and terrible passing skills by the Zebras’ keeper, Herve Koffi. The Burkina Faso international kicked the ball right at Victor Pálsson, who reacted quickly and picked out Bialek who slotted it home.
But that was all that the hosts could muster and who the final whistle blew, their heads were hanging while the Charleroi players celebrated the win that keeps them in the Pro League for at least one more season.
Gabriel Slonina spoke to Yanks Abroad after the game and gave his take on the 90 minutes.
“We lost, that’s it,” the former Chicago Fire keeper said. “I guess they wanted it more.”
“The first half was not the best for us but in the second half we started to push more but unfortunately it wasn’t enough.”
Regarding the big task ahead of the team as they try to stave off relegation, he continued, “I haven’t looked at the table yet; I’m still taking in the loss but we’re going to keep pushing to win the next two games. I’m not sure how the table looks now with points but we’ll keep fighting.”
The penultimate game for Slonina and Eupen, who still have another shot at another play-off round if they finish second, will be a trip across Belgium to take on KV Kortrijk. The Kerels are on 28 points, just three ahead of the Pandas while second place Molenbeek is on 30. With six more points up for grabs, anything is possible.
