This Thursday, Sporting travelled to Silkeborg in Denmark for the final matchday of the group stage in the Conference League. Compared to Sunday's win against Eupen, Wesley Hoedt, Amir Murillo (suspended), Amadou Diawara and Mario Stroeykens were replaced by Hannes Delcroix, Noah Sadiki, Kristian Arnstad and Yari Verschaeren. Thanks to goals by Lior Refaelov and Benito Raman, as well as a solid performance by Hendrik Van Crombrugge, Sporting qualified for the UECL playoffs.
RSCA started the match with 60% of the ball possession in the first quarter of an hour, but without much danger. After twenty minutes of play, that changed: a Made in Neerpede build-up via Zeno Debast, Kristian Arnstad, Noah Sadiki, Francis Amuzu and Yari Verschaeren ended with Lior Refaelov who outsmarted the goalkeeper counter-footed. And after half an hour of play, Sporting got another boost: defender Anders Klynge pulled the emergency brake when Yari Verschaeren seemed to be heading alone for goal, and was thus sent off the pitch with red. Lior Refaelov twice went close to making it 0-2, but the score remained 0-1 at half-time.
The second half proved itself a true thriller. Fábio Silva still came close to scoring, but Silkeborg also created more and more chances at the other end. Wesley Hoedt and Benito Raman came between the lines for Hannes Delcroix and Francis Amuzu, and Silkeborg stepped up the pressure with ten men. Hendrik Van Crombrugge then proved his worth with some brilliant saves. And these were rewarded with a win: the Danes failed to score, and on a counter, substitute Benito Raman finished it off. On a pass from Fábio Silva, he chipped the 0-2 final score enigmatically over the goalkeeper. Sporting thus qualify for the next phase in the Conference League. The draw for that will take place on Monday.
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Line-up Silkeborg IF |
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Line-up RSC Anderlecht |
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