2021 Belgian Cup final

2021 Belgian Cup final
Event2020–21 Belgian Cup
25 April 2021
VenueKing Baudouin Stadium, Brussels
RefereeBram Van Driessche
Attendance0[note 1]

The 2021 Belgian Cup final, named Croky Cup after the sponsor, was the 66th Belgian Cup final. On 13 March 2021, Standard Liège qualified for their 18th final, losing 9 and winning 8. Genk qualified one day later, reaching their sixth final, winning all but one, namely their latest appearance when they lost the 2018 Belgian Cup Final to Standard Liège. It took place on 25 April 2021 and was won by Genk.

Route to the final

Standard Liège Genk
Opponent Result Legs Scorers Round Opponent Result Legs Scorers
Seraing (II) 4–1 4–1 away Bokadi, Jans, Klauss, Muleka Sixth round Tessenderlo (III) 5–0 FF [1] 5–0 FF away
Kortrijk (I) 1–1 1–1 away (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) Laifis Seventh round Sint-Truiden (I) 1–0 1–0 home Onuachu
Club Brugge (I) 1–0 1–0 home Muleka Quarter-finals Mechelen (I) 4–1 4–1 home Thorstvedt (2), Muñoz, Bongonda
Eupen (I) 1–0 1–0 away Amallah Semi-finals Anderlecht (I) 2–1 2–1 away Onuachu, Miazga (o.g.)


Match

Summary

In an empty King Baudouin Stadium, both teams started the match eagerly. Genk came close to an early goal, with a shot by Kristian Thorstvedt hitting the post and a first serious warning for Standard Liège. Standard Liège, who had been relying on their fighting spirit throughout the season, lacked sharpness and creativity in the final third of the pitch. At the back, however, they did manage to keep control of the ball and kept Genk at bay after the initial challenge by Thorstvedt. During the 1st half, Théo Bongonda and poacher Paul Onuachu were firmly in the defense's grip.

At the start of the second half, the game split open, when Hugo Siquet lost the ball, Genk immediately sent it to Junya Itō, who left Arnaud Bodart without a chance with a crossed shot. The goal gave Genk confidence and the Limburg team gradually took more and more control of the match. Although Genk was the better team, they still had to watch their backs. The Genk defense had a hard time dealing with the excellent substitute Jackson Muleka, who had the equalizer at his feet, but his shot was a miss. As the game progressed, Standard was forced to take more risks, allowing more space for Genk. Ten minutes before the end of the game, Bongonda took advantage of this to slide in the 0-2. Muleka immediately brought the excitement back with a strong header, but Genk survived the final offensive, winning their 5th Belgian Cup and being assured of European football for the coming season.

Details

Standard Liège1–2Genk
  • Muleka 83'
Report
Attendance: 0[note 1]
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Standard Liège
Genk
GK 16 Arnaud Bodart
RB 41 Hugo Siquet
CB 5 Moussa Sissako  90+2'
CB 34 Konstantinos Laifis
LB 24 Nicolas Gavory  63'
MF 19 Selim Amallah  87'
MF 28 Samuel Bastien  75'
MF 8 Gojko Cimirot  66'
MF 26 Nicolas Raskin  71'
CF 14 Klauss
MF 32 Michel-Ange Balikwisha  57'
Substitutes:
MF 10 Mehdi Carcela  81'  66'
FW 17 Jackson Muleka  65'  57'
MF 22 Maxime Lestienne  75'
GK 1 Jean-François Gillet
DF 6 Noë Dussenne
MF 15 Eden Shamir
DF 21 Collins Fai
DF 33 Damjan Pavlovic
Manager:
Mbaye Leye
GK 26 Maarten Vandevoordt
RB 23 Daniel Muñoz  56'
CB 46 Carlos Cuesta
CB 33 Jhon Lucumí
LB 5 Gerardo Arteaga
MF 7 Junya Itō
MF 17 Patrik Hrošovský  90'
MF 42 Kristian Thorstvedt  87'
MF 8 Bryan Heynen
CF 10 Théo Bongonda
CF 18 Paul Onuachu
Substitutes:
DF 2 Mark McKenzie  87'
FW 9 Cyriel Dessers
MF 14 Bastien Toma
DF 21 Jere Uronen
MF 24 Luca Oyen
GK 40 Tobe Leysen
DF 77 Ángelo Preciado
Manager:
John van den Brom

Assistant referees:
Kevin Monteny
Yves De Neve
Fourth official:
Jan Boterberg

Match rules

  • 90 minutes.
  • 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
  • Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
  • Eight named substitutes.
  • Maximum of three substitutions.

Notes

  1. ^ a b The final was played behind closed doors due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Belgium.

References

  1. ^ "Ook geen bekerwedstrijden voor amateurclubs Rupel Boom en Thes" [No cup matches for amateur clubs Rupel Boom and Thes as well]. sporza.be. 19 January 2021.