2021 Belgian Cup Final

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.

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

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 Ito, 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 Ito 48'
Bongonda 80'
Attendance: 0[note 1]
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Standard Liège
Genk
GK16 Arnaud Bodart
RB41 Hugo Siquet
CB5 Moussa Sissako 90+2'
CB34 Konstantinos Laifis
LB24 Nicolas Gavory 63'
MF19 Selim Amallah 87'
MF28 Samuel Bastien 75'
MF8 Gojko Cimirot 66'
MF26 Nicolas Raskin 71'
CF14 Klauss
MF32 Michel-Ange Balikwisha 57'
Substitutes:
MF10 Mehdi Carcela 81' 66'
FW17 Jackson Muleka 65' 57'
MF22 Maxime Lestienne 75'
GK1 Jean-François Gillet
DF6 Noë Dussenne
MF15 Eden Shamir
DF21 Collins Fai
DF33 Damjan Pavlovic
Manager:
Mbaye Leye
GK26 Maarten Vandevoordt
RB23 Daniel Muñoz 56'
CB46 Carlos Cuesta
CB33 Jhon Lucumí
LB5 Gerardo Arteaga
MF7 Junya Ito
MF17 Patrik Hrošovský 90'
MF42 Kristian Thorstvedt 87'
MF8 Bryan Heynen
CF10 Théo Bongonda
CF18 Paul Onuachu
Substitutes:
DF2 Mark McKenzie 87'
FW9 Cyriel Dessers
MF14 Bastien Toma
DF21 Jere Uronen
MF24 Luca Oyen
GK40 Tobe Leysen
DF77 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. 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.
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