It took a lot of effort, but after more than 120 minutes Club YLA qualified for the final of the Cup of Belgium. Rania Boutiebi's beautiful goal proved enough to advance. OHL Women awaits on May 1.
KAA Gent Ladies started the match brightly. Club YLA found no answer to the pressing of the East Flemish Ladies, and got away well a few times. Van Britsom and Van Daele tried their luck from long range, but goalie Covent stood firm.
Via right back Van Belle, YLA could counter twice, but her crosses did not reach a teammate. On the other side, striker Van Daele again caused a threat, but after a fine sprint Gielen took the sting out of the attack in extremis. On the half hour Lyndsey Van Belle had to leave the cup game early, Jody Vangheluwe came on.
And the defender has to go straight to work in a duel-rich last quarter of an hour. The absolute final chord is for Abrahamsson. The YLA captain headed a Vanmechelen free kick onto the crossbar, but all in all YLA will have to change its tune in the second half if it wants to lay claim to the final.
Strong YLA in the second half
And they clearly understood that. Coach Heleen Jacques' troops came out of the dressing room strong. With Martlé for Vanhaecke came an attacking change, and that had its effect.
On another stoppage time, Abrahamsson just couldn't reach the ball, but it was a sign of things to come: YLA wants to get to that final. The first real excitement after halftime came on the hour. After a debatable phase on the edge of the sixteen, Kerkhove goes down, but the referee judges that the foul happened outside. No penalty, but a dangerous free kick, a job for Vanmechelen.
The Bruges striker placed the ball beautifully in the far corner, but goalkeeper Riet Maes played an excellent game and kept her team from falling behind. What follows is a series of chances for Blauw-Zwart. Successively Guns, Vanmechelen, Kerkhove and Pauwels try, but without success. Club is in control of the game, but the goal just won't come. And that's the watch out for the proverbial lid on the nose. In injury time, Gent breaks through once more, but keeper Abrahamsson is resolute and can clear the ball. 0-0 after 90 minutes, which means extensions.
