Willem II v Charleroi – Day 56

Western European League 2 Play-off Final (Season 23)
WILLEM II 2 CHARLEROI 1

Willem II clinched promotion back to the Western European top-flight for the first time since season 6 after they battled to a late victory against Charleroi.

It is a remarkable turnaround for the Dutch side who only narrowly avoided relegation from the second tier last season. Kuzmenko was Willem’s main attacking threat, his surging runs causing plenty of problems for the opposition. One such run in the 8th minute saw him float a fine cross towards the far post, but Michelgrove failed to make any connection with his header as the ball drifted out of play. Charleroi also pushed forward as both teams chased the opening goal. Bolster sold Podrova a dummy before drilling a fierce shot that flashed wide of the post, and the striker came close to opening the scoring once more when his goalbound header from a corner was cleared off the line by Merton.

It was an open contest and the deadlock was finally broken early in the second-half. Tatarkova’s first-time cross was blocked, but the rebound fell kindly for Obradovic inside the penalty area. The left-winger took one touch and duly slammed an unstoppable drive past Keppenrus to the delight of the Dutch contingent. Play was temporarily halted after flares were lobbed onto the pitch, but once the match resumed Charleroi nearly grabbed a leveller. Verplancken stretched to reach Staunton’s cross but failed to make proper contact as the ball trickled wide of the near post.

Willem looked comfortable but the match seemingly swung in Charleroi’s favour in the 77th minute. A Willem II attack broke down and the Belgian side surged forward in numbers, outnumbering their opponent’s defence four to three. Bolster played Grebis through one-on-one with Bolea, and he was about to pull the trigger when Paquet desperately lunged in from behind. It was a professional foul and the referee had no hesitation pointing to the penalty spot and brandishing the red card.

Staunton displayed nerves of steel, stepping up to nonchalantly stroke his penalty past Bolea and level the scores. Willem had lost their lead and were a man down, but they responded in magnificient fashion to stun their opponents. A free-kick was pumped into the Charleroi penalty area, Kuzmenko chested the ball into Michelgrove’s path and the striker instinctively stuck out a boot to divert the ball into the roof of the net before being mobbed by joyous teammates.

Charleroi desperately chased a second leveller to bring the match to penalties, and Willem II were camped in their own half as they tried to see out four tense minutes of time added on. Bolea comfortably saved Verplancken’s scuffed effort, Bolster was denied by a last-ditch tackle from Podrova and Staunton’s long-range drive was superbly blocked by Vial. Gareffi booted yet another clearance into the stands and the final whistle was finally blown to spark a pitch invasion as Willem celebrated a long-awaited promotion back into League 1.

Attendance 17,000

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