The 2023 Belgian Super Cup was a football match that took place on 23 July 2023 between the winners of the 2022–23 Belgian Pro League and the winners of the 2022–23 Belgian Cup. As Antwerp secured a double, winning both titles, they played the runners-up of the 2022–23 Belgian Cup, Mechelen.
Pre-match Both clubs had been able to keep most of their squad together, with the main exceptions being Willian Pacho, Calvin Stengs and Mandela Keita who all left Antwerp, and Alessio da Cruz and Dries Wouters no longer at KV Mechelen.
Match Summary Gaëtan Coucke was forced to intervene a first time on an attempt from Jelle Bataille, but a minute later and with less than ten minutes played, Balikwisha scored from Bataille's assist. Balikwisha immediately added a second which was disallowed for offside after several minutes of VAR-review. Before half time, Antwerp again came close to doubling their lead, the crossbar preventing an own-goal by Jordi Vanlerberghe and Coucke pushing a hard strike from Gastón Ávila over the goal.
Mid-way through the second half, Ávila committed a foul on the ankle of Nikola Storm and was sent off. Ritchie De Laet scored an own-goal, resulting in the game to be decided after penalty kicks as no extra-time was permitted.
Antwerp scored once in their first three attempts, but then won. Jean Butez first saved a penalty kick, then converted one himself before also forcing Dimitri Lavalée to make a crucial error.
Details
GK 1 Jean ButezRB 34 Jelle Bataille CB 23 Toby Alderweireld (c)CB 2 Ritchie De LaetLB 22 Gastón Ávila MF 48 Arthur VermeerenMF 17 Jacob Ondrejka MF 8 Alhassan Yusuf RW 11 Arbnor Muja CF 7 Gyrano Kerk LW 10 Michel-Ange Balikwisha Substitutes:CF 9 George Ilenikhena DF 21 Sam Vines MF 32 Christopher Scott DF 33 Zeno Van Den Bosch CF 55 Anthony ValenciaCF 60 Victor UdohGK 91 Senne LammensManager: Mark van Bommel GK 1 Gaëtan CouckeRW 12 Tristan Loiseaux CB 30 Jordi VanlerbergheCB 14 Dimitri Lavalée LW 18 Alec Van Hoorenbeeck MF 19 Kerim Mrabti MF 34 Ngal'ayel Mukau MF 16 Rob Schoofs (c)LW 11 Nikola Storm RW 9 Julien NgoyCF 20 Lion LauberbachSubstitutes:DF 21 Boli Bolingoli DF 23 Daam Foulon FW 28 Frederic Soelle Soelle GK 15 Yannick ThoelenDF 27 David BatesMF 35 Bilal BafdiliMF 36 Dirk AsareManager: Steven Defour
See also 2023–24 Belgian Pro League 2023–24 Belgian Cup
References