2023-04-20 22:50:34
Union Saint-Gilloise, after the draw in the first leg (1-1), did not create the feat that would have allowed it to kick the Leverkusen monster out of the Europa League (1-3).
How could they start their quarter-final worse than by letting Diaby go behind the defense after only… 70 seconds of play? Taken aback after the procrastination of his central axis boss, Burgess, Anthony Moris could not even enter the duel to throw himself at the feet of the French international and had to see the damage after the latter had him exceeded and concluded from the left in the empty goal: returned from Leverkusen a week ago with a good draw, the Saint-Gilloise Union should finally aim for the semis of the Europa League with a goal behind.
The desperate dive won’t avoid the 0-2 either
In this Lotto Park pressure cooker, although not full since the two stands behind the goals have not been opened, the Union does not yet come out of its role, that of a rapid transition team never as dangerous as when she does not take the game on her own. For the Germans, Diaby again shaves the post trying to take Moris on the small side, on the counterattack (16th) and Machida must save his defense on a very dangerous cross at ground level (22nd), but the Belgians also have their half- opportunities. Boniface is countered when his strike looks very dangerous (4th), while Adingra, alone at six meters, is a bit too short to take back a cross from Lapoussin (34th).
The class difference is however as palpable as on the first leg, especially since Geraerts’ men, in the game, do not have the diabolical precision of their last continental outings. And in the 38th, it will materialize on an impeccable service from Hlozek at the far post, where Bakker is absolutely alone to volley. Moris tries a desperate dive when he is already too far. The ball goes under his stomach and the 6th in the Bundesliga is two goals ahead.
And a recovery error that hurts a lot
The start of the second period already looks like a last stand: the Union puts the pressure on but lacks precision. And in the 61st, it was raced by a decidedly unlivable Bakker that Moris, served in the back, will raise… directly on Frimpong who will conclude in the empty goal (0-3, 61st). He who had had the misfortune to release a fatal ball on the lawn of Glasgow Rangers in the Champions League play-offs (3-0), synonymous with the elimination of the C1, curiously concludes his continental epic when he is unanimously considered as one of the top five goalkeepers in the country.
The reduction in Terho’s score, with a deflected shot in the skylight (1-3, 65th), is nothing more than a bandage on a wooden leg but neither the Union nor Moris would have deserved to be indicate the output on a 0-3. And when Adingra touches the bar (70th), or when Hradecky has a crazy reflex on his line on a dangerous and countered cross from Boniface, it will become obvious that Leverkusen had time to shake a little and that, yes, this team of the Union had its place at this level. Despite the last goal from Hlozek full axis after one of the only three parades of the evening of “Antho”, a duel won against Diaby (1-4, 80th), which will precede two face-to-face won against Adli ( 89th) and Azmoum (90+3). Not sure that consoles him…
From our special correspondent in Brussels, Julien Mollereau
#Football #Finished #European #fairy #tale #Anthony #Moris