Belgium
West Vlaanderen Provincial 3A Eindronde
Promotion Play Off Semi Final 2nd Leg
Thursday 10th May 2018
Kick Off 15.00 Actual 15.03
K.S.V. Veurne 2 Union Sportive Ploegsteert-Bizet 3 (AET) 3-4 on Aggregate, attendance 238
41’ 0-1
43’ 1-1
94’ 2-1
98’ 2-2 (pen)
113’ 2-3
@ Stedelijk Sportpark Will Tura
Noordstraat 142
8630 Veurne
€5 Admission
Team Sheet, free.
It was Ascension Day in Belgium today, which meant a good opportunity of doing an afternoon match and being home at a reasonable time.
On final league positions this was 4th versus 3rd in the league table. The 1st leg had finished 1-1, so the tie was still very much alive. Sadly, the opening 90 minutes today was pretty dire, with both teams scoring late in the first half to go in level at 1-1 (2-2 on aggregate). The away goal rule would apply, so we knew if either team were to score in the second half, there would be no extra time. Neither team ever looked like scoring, but with extra time looming, Ploegsteert had a man red carded for picking up a second yellow card, so surely Veurne would go on to win it now, playing an extra half hour with a man advantage.
Veurne scored early in extra time, but four minutes later the 10 men were level, equalising from the penalty spot, but more crucially was the fact it was now 3-3 on aggregate and that would take the visitors through on the ‘away goals’ rule. Rather than hold on to what they had, Ploegsteert kept attacking, being rewarded with what turned out to be the winner with seven minutes left. Veurne then had to score twice in the time remaining time to win the tie, but despite constant pressure, it was not to be their day.
For once, The Tunnel ran without any of the usual problems. Our outbound 10.50 train left 8 minutes early, then on the return we managed to get on the 18.50 (we were booked on the 19.20 in case our match went to extra time and penalties) which left a minute early. As Veurne is only just across the French border and the match finished at 17.34, I was in the house exactly 2 hours after the final whistle at 19.34 !
