Belgium First Division: Plenty on line in playoffs

Lokeren defeated Gent 1-0 in the Belgian First Division Playoff I on Saturday, and there were also wins for Kortrijk and Charleroi.

Belgian striker Nill De Pauw put Lokeren ahead with what proved to be the winning goal in the 66th minute at the Daknamstadion. Lokeren now have one win and one defeat from two matches played in the playoff to determine the league champion.

In Group A of Playoff II, Sint-Truiden drew 0-0 at home to Cercle Brugge.

The teams are level on two points from two playoff matches played, behind group leaders Mechelen.

The winner of the group will meet the top team in Group B with a Europa League qualification berth at stake.

In Group B, Kortrijk beat Germinal Beerschot 1-0 thanks to a 57th-minute strike from midfielder Mohamed Messoudi.

Kortrijk and Germinal Beerschot both have three points from two matches played.

Westerlo remain top and can take a three-point lead with a win over Zulte-Waregem on Sunday.

In Playoff III, Charleroi overcame AS Eupen 2-0 at home.

Goals from Israeli striker Dudu Biton and midfielder Alessandro Cordaro wrapped up the win for the hosts at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi.

Both sides now have one victory each in their five-match contest to avoid automatic relegation.

Sat 9 April, 2011

Belgium First Division: Plenty on line in playoffs

Lokeren defeated Gent 1-0 in the Belgian First Division Playoff I on Saturday, and there were also wins for Kortrijk and Charleroi.

Belgian striker Nill De Pauw put Lokeren ahead with what proved to be the winning goal in the 66th minute at the Daknamstadion. Lokeren now have one win and one defeat from two matches played in the playoff to determine the league champion.

In Group A of Playoff II, Sint-Truiden drew 0-0 at home to Cercle Brugge.

The teams are level on two points from two playoff matches played, behind group leaders Mechelen.

The winner of the group will meet the top team in Group B with a Europa League qualification berth at stake.

In Group B, Kortrijk beat Germinal Beerschot 1-0 thanks to a 57th-minute strike from midfielder Mohamed Messoudi.

Kortrijk and Germinal Beerschot both have three points from two matches played.

Westerlo remain top and can take a three-point lead with a win over Zulte-Waregem on Sunday.

In Playoff III, Charleroi overcame AS Eupen 2-0 at home.

Goals from Israeli striker Dudu Biton and midfielder Alessandro Cordaro wrapped up the win for the hosts at the Stade du Pays de Charleroi.

Both sides now have one victory each in their five-match contest to avoid automatic relegation.

Sat 9 April, 2011

The Greatest Goals Ever Scored #5: Saeed Al-Owairan Saudi Arabia Vs Belgium 1994

no comments by Mad Dog and Glory on March 27th, 2011

A brand new CaughtOffside series with a catchy title and nice graphic. Who saw this coming? Saeed Al-Owairan takes on the entire Belgium side, scoring a goal that will live long in the memory.

Euro 2012 qualifying Group A: Austria 0 Belgium 2

Austria’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012 took a jolt following a 2-0 home defeat against Belgium on Friday.

Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel did the damage for the visitors with goals in either half, ensuring Austria fell to the first defeat of the qualifying campaign.Austria remain second in qualifying Group A but five points behind leaders Germany, while Belgium rise to third, equal on points with Austria.Expectations of a match approaching something like their 4-4 draw in Brussels last October were quickly sunk as Austria managed just the one real chance in 90 minutes.Belgium goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was at hand to smother that opportunity, collecting the ball at his feet after Austria captain Marc Janko was sent through.Witsel put the visitors ahead in just the sixth minute, breaking from the offside trap and getting a clean header to a whipped-in cross.The 22-year-old scored again five minutes after the break, smashing a left-footed shot past Austria custodian Juergen Macho after being picked out at the far post by Laurent Ciman’s cross.

Fri 25 March, 2011

Euro 2012 qualifying Group A: Austria 0 Belgium 2

Austria’s hopes of qualifying for Euro 2012 took a jolt following a 2-0 home defeat against Belgium on Friday.

Standard Liege midfielder Axel Witsel did the damage for the visitors with goals in either half, ensuring Austria fell to the first defeat of the qualifying campaign.Austria remain second in qualifying Group A but five points behind leaders Germany, while Belgium rise to third, equal on points with Austria.Expectations of a match approaching something like their 4-4 draw in Brussels last October were quickly sunk as Austria managed just the one real chance in 90 minutes.Belgium goalkeeper Simon Mignolet was at hand to smother that opportunity, collecting the ball at his feet after Austria captain Marc Janko was sent through.Witsel put the visitors ahead in just the sixth minute, breaking from the offside trap and getting a clean header to a whipped-in cross.The 22-year-old scored again five minutes after the break, smashing a left-footed shot past Austria custodian Juergen Macho after being picked out at the far post by Laurent Ciman’s cross.

Fri 25 March, 2011