Union Rochefortoise knocked Gent out of the Belgian Cup. 3-3, then 4-3 on penalties. Rochefort play in D1 ACFF.
I read the result at the chip shop, in my weekly. I read it again. The score hadn’t changed.
An hour in, Rochefort were 1-3 down after an own goal by Luka Hoedaert. In the 68th minute, Gent led 3-2. Goalkeeper Kjell Peersman played the ball with his foot to Mamadou Diallo, from a goal kick. The defender stopped it with his hand. The referee, Massimiliano Ledda, ruled the ball was already in play. Penalty. The Gent players protested, Christian Burgess at the front. Thomas Vanhecke scored it.
Note that I’m not against progress. I’m against this progress. A goal kick, in my day, went far. Towards the middle, often towards nobody. Nobody passed it two metres to a colleague, like a dish at the Sunday table. I’m not criticising. I’m comparing.
The rest, though, I recognise. A small club, a big club, a comeback, extra time, penalties. That is the Cup.
Nicolas Lhoist told RTBF: “You face the Pro League leaders, who play in Europe on Thursdays. We’re in Rochefort, and we manage to hold that side. It’s simply extraordinary.” He is right. I don’t use that word. He is allowed.
Rik De Mil told Voetbalprimeur that the elimination was not down to mentality, and: “They are my choices, so I have to be judged on them.” A manager who talks like that, there were some before too. Not many.
Marcel, silly question, but were there penalty shoot-outs in 1980?
I didn’t answer. Rochefort will find out their opponent after Sint-Truiden play Lommel, on Sunday. Well. It’s the times, and for once they look like the other ones.
It’s true, we checked: DH Les Sports+.
