2023 Belgian Super Cup Explained

2023 Belgian Super Cup
Team1:Antwerp
Team1association:League winners
Team1score:1
Team2:Mechelen
Team2association:Cup finalists
Team2score:1
Details:Antwerp won 5–4 on penalties
Date:23 July 2023
Stadium:Bosuilstadion
City:Antwerp
Referee:Lawrence Visser
Attendance:16,000
Previous:2022
Next:2024

The 2023 Belgian Super Cup was a football match that took place on 23 July 2023 between the winners of the 2022–23 Belgian Pro League and the winners of the 2022–23 Belgian Cup. As Antwerp secured a double, winning both titles, they played the runners-up of the 2022–23 Belgian Cup, Mechelen.[1]

Pre-match

Both clubs had been able to keep most of their squad together, with the main exceptions being Willian Pacho, Calvin Stengs and Mandela Keita who all left Antwerp, and Alessio da Cruz and Dries Wouters no longer at KV Mechelen.

Match

Summary

Gaëtan Coucke was forced to intervene a first time on an attempt from Jelle Bataille, but a minute later and with less than ten minutes played, Balikwisha scored from Bataille's assist. Balikwisha immediately added a second which was disallowed for offside after several minutes of VAR-review. Before half time, Antwerp again came close to doubling their lead, the crossbar preventing an own-goal by Jordi Vanlerberghe and Coucke pushing a hard strike from Gastón Ávila over the goal.

Mid-way through the second half, Ávila committed a foul on the ankle of Nikola Storm and was sent off. Ritchie De Laet scored an own-goal, resulting in the game to be decided after penalty kicks as no extra-time was permitted.

Antwerp scored once in their first three attempts, but then won. Jean Butez first saved a penalty kick, then converted one himself before also forcing Dimitri Lavalée to make a crucial error.

Details

GK 1 Jean Butez
RB 34
CB 23 Toby Alderweireld (c)
CB 2 Ritchie De Laet
LB 22
MF 48 Arthur Vermeeren
MF 17
MF 8
RW 11
CF 7
LW 10
Substitutes:
CF 9
DF 21
MF 32
DF 33
CF 55 Anthony Valencia
CF 60 Victor Udoh
GK 91 Senne Lammens
Manager:
Mark van Bommel
GK 1 Gaëtan Coucke
RW 12
CB 30 Jordi Vanlerberghe
CB 14
LW 18
MF 19
MF 34
MF 16 Rob Schoofs (c)
LW 11
RW 9 Julien Ngoy
CF 20 Lion Lauberbach
Substitutes:
DF 21
DF 23
FW 28
GK 15 Yannick Thoelen
DF 27 David Bates
MF 35 Bilal Bafdili
MF 36 Dirk Asare
Manager:
Steven Defour

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Antwerp vs. Mechelen . uk.soccerway.com . 12 August 2024.