EUROPE PLAY-OFFS - GAME DAY 2: KV MECHELEN - KV OOSTENDE 5 - 3

The home side scored fairly quickly through Druijf, but the goal was disallowed for offside after intervention by VAR. The visitors had the most ball possession in the early stages but the chances were in their favour. First there was the disallowed goal and then a shot by Storm deflected into a corner. The goal came at the other end via the inevitable Sakala who turned around Peyre and beat Thoelen with a groundbreaking shot (0-1). The coastal boys extended their lead when Theate headed a corner from D'Arpino past Thoelen (0-2).. The second goal came after Storm kicked the ball through Hubert's legs (1-2).  Hardly had the kick-off started when the score was again tied. Mrabti popped a cross past Hubert in the first zone (2-2).. Shortly before half time KVO escaped a deficit when a goal by Hairemans was disallowed for offside . The coastboys reacted strongly but Thoelen saved the attempts of Sakala and Kvasina.

The home side started the second half with a chance for Mrabti, who kicked high over from a tight angle. A dangerous cross from Hjulsager put the Dane in danger in the home defence. After an intervention of the VAR the coastal boys escaped a penalty.  The Mechelen players took the lead anyway when Storm broke free and kicked the ball past an opportunity-less Hubert into the goal (3-2). The coastal boys were looking for the equalizer, while Malinwa had chance after chance to kill the game. However, after a quick Ostend changeover, Hjulsager slammed the equalizer from a tight angle right past Thoelen (3-3)..  The equal score did not remain on the board for long as the free-standing Vanlerberghe kicked the ball past a bewildered Hubert into the goal (4-3). In the final phase De Camargo stepped in to make it 5-3.