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 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
GK16Belgium Arnaud Bodart
RB41Belgium Hugo Siquet
CB5France Moussa SissakoRed card 90+2'
CB34Cyprus Konstantinos Laifis
LB24France Nicolas GavoryYellow card 63'
MF19Morocco Selim AmallahYellow card 87'
MF28Belgium Samuel Bastiendownward-facing red arrow 75'
MF8Bosnia and Herzegovina Gojko Cimirotdownward-facing red arrow 66'
MF26Belgium Nicolas RaskinYellow card 71'
CF14Brazil Klauss
MF32Belgium Michel-Ange Balikwishadownward-facing red arrow 57'
Substitutes:
MF10Morocco Mehdi CarcelaYellow card 81'upward-facing green arrow 66'
FW17Democratic Republic of the Congo Jackson MulekaYellow card 65'upward-facing green arrow 57'
MF22Belgium Maxime Lestienneupward-facing green arrow 75'
GK1Belgium Jean-François Gillet
DF6Belgium Noë Dussenne
MF15Israel Eden Shamir
DF21Cameroon Collins Fai
DF33Belgium Damjan Pavlovic
Manager:
Senegal Mbaye Leye
GK26Belgium Maarten Vandevoordt
RB23Colombia Daniel MuñozYellow card 56'
CB46Colombia Carlos Cuesta
CB33Colombia Jhon Lucumí
LB5Mexico Gerardo Arteaga
MF7Japan Junya Itō
MF17Slovakia Patrik HrošovskýYellow card 90'
MF42Norway Kristian Thorstvedtdownward-facing red arrow 87'
MF8Belgium Bryan Heynen
CF10Belgium Théo Bongonda
CF18Nigeria Paul Onuachu
Substitutes:
DF2United States Mark McKenzieupward-facing green arrow 87'
FW9Nigeria Cyriel Dessers
MF14Switzerland Bastien Toma
DF21Finland Jere Uronen
MF24Belgium Luca Oyen
GK40Belgium Tobe Leysen
DF77Ecuador Ángelo Preciado
Manager:
Netherlands 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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