The Jupiler Pro League season got underway this weekend and for Standard Liege, led by their newly appointed team captain, Marlon Fossey, they travelled to La Louviere to take on league newcomers, Royal Association Athlétique Louviéroise La Louvière. Referred to as simply RAAL, this is the first time in the club’s history that they have competed at the top level.
With a slew of newcomers on les Rouches’ roster, the visitors started off strongly and after the final whistle was blown, they got back on the team bus with three points in the bag, becoming the first team in the league to record a victory this season. Their first goal came from Thomas Henry who, despite his name, is a Frenchman. The second was struck by his fellow countryman Marco Ilaimaharitra, who was gifted the ball on his birthday to score from the penalty spot.
The visitors took advantage of the nerves of the new boys and after just five minutes had the RAAL Argentinian keeper, Marcos Peano picking the ball out of the back of his net. Hakim Sahabo got a shot off from just inside the box, but his effort was deflected, and it was Henry who reacted the quickest to tuck it home on his return to the Pro League, where he last played three seasons ago.
It was a wake-up call and a “welcome to the big leagues, boys” for the Wolves because a minute later they were down the other end with Jordi Liongola being played into the box, but the Belgian born Burundi international slipped at the crucial moment and the ball was cleared.
Fifteen minutes in Fossey was brought down just to the right of the RAAL box, winning a free kick. The delivery was a good one and offered the American a chance to get on the end of it at the far post but the angle was too tight to cause any further damage to the hosts.
Les Loups had another chance when it seemed that the Standard defense was caught napping but Sami Lahssaini’s shot from inside the box was poorly struck and ended up amongst the RAAL Ultras in the stand behind the goal.
The battle continued although with little excitement, as could be expected in the first game of the new season but the hosts should have done better when Theo Epailly sent a sweet ball across the face of the goal but no green shirts could get a toe on it.
Ten minutes before the intermission, Fossey sent a nice diagonal cross into the box, and it appeared that Liongola touched it with his arm. VAR was consulted and despite the protests from the fans and players, the referee point to the spot and Ilaimaharitra collected his birthday present.
After the re-start, the RAAL boys must have listened to the coach’s half-time talk because they came out with a sense of urgency, keeping the ball down the attacking end for a spell. A 50th minute free kick from just outside the box was squandered when nobody could get a good connection with a header. Then Liongola took his chances from 20 yards, but the American defender blocked the effort which fell to Mouhamed Belkheir who struck it, but not very well, for one of the simplest saves that Matthieu Epolo will probably make this season. The keeper was being kept busy until the ball that he couldn’t save.
Samuel Gueulette got on the end of a cross and powered it from close range into the back netting as the Easi Arena went into a frenzy. The excitement was short lived however because VAR intervened where the linesman didn’t and made the offside call.
Although the hosts were gaining confidence as the game went on, the visitors were not going to rest on their two-goal lead, and this was evident when again, Fossey sent a beautiful cross into the box for Tobias Mohr but the German midfielder struck it right at the La Louviere keeper.
With 15 minutes left on the clock, Epolo was on his game again this time when his central defender Daan Dierckx deflected a shot that allowed the 20-year-old keeper to show his athletic skills.
Try as they may, RAAL did everything right but put the ball into the back of the net. Credit to the newcomers who never gave up but failed to get anything from their first top tear clash.
Yanks Abroad spoke to Standard’s captain after the game to get his take on the evening’s action.
“It’s always good to start the season with a win,” the LA-born right back said. “I’ve been here three years now; this is my fourth season and it’s the first time that we’ve started with a win. It’s a great feeling because you never know how you’re going to perform from pre-season to the (regular) season but everything worked out today.”
“We had some shaky moments,” he admitted “but this is normal. Three points, so I’m happy.”
New to the Pro League Fossey said of their opponents that “they were more excited than nervous, so it was important for us to start well, and we did that. Getting the first goal was important, and the second goal was important. We had a clean sheet, so it was a good day.”
Regarding the heroics of his keeper, the captain said that “he was appointed our number one this season. He’s still young and he’s got a very good future ahead of him.”
Standard will host Dender, who drew 0-0 against Cercle Brugge, on Saturday evening at the Sclessin.
