STVV had a rollercoaster evening on March 1, 2025, as they snatched a significant 4-2 victory against KV Kortrijk, widening the gap between the two relegation-threatened teams. The match took place at Stayen, which transformed from nervous tension to celebrations for the home side as they secured three invaluable points.
From the start, the atmosphere was electric. STVV took control swiftly, establishing a comfortable 2-0 lead within the first twenty minutes.
The first goal came via a tragic own goal from KV Kortrijk’s Mampassi, who misjudged a corner from Lapoussin, redirecting the ball past his own goalkeeper. Just ten minutes later, Vanwesemael exploited the space afforded by the Kortrijk defense, expertly converting another cross from Lapoussin to double STVV’s advantage.
"STVV pakt drie gouden punten na doelpuntenfestijn tegen Kortrijk," the commentary went after the initial dominance of the home side, underlining the high stakes involved as KV Kortrijk struggled to find their footing.
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and Bernd Storck, the coach of KV Kortrijk, had no choice but to make tactical adjustments. The urgency heightened by the early slip prompted him to substitute Sissako for De Neve as the team sought to shift the momentum.
Just before halftime, with increased pressure, Kortrijk managed to mount their first serious challenge. A handball by STVV was ruled within the box, and Ambrose stepped up to convert the penalty, giving Kortrijk their first goal of the match and cutting the deficit to 2-1.
"Kortrijk moest dan weer winnen om nog te mogen dromen van de veertiende plaats," the reports reflected, indicating the importance of this fixture for the visitors. They entered halftime with renewed vigor, still trailing.
The second half began with both teams jostling for dominance, but the pace slowed as injuries took their toll, including the STVV goalkeeper Kokubo’s injury. The delayed restarts worked to STVV's advantage as they regrouped and prepared for the challenges Kortrijk posed.
Midway through the half, Kortrijk’s Dermane managed to equalize with what seemed like the turning point of the match. A swift passing move opened up STVV's defense, and he calmly slotted the ball past Kokubo, tying the game at 2-2.
Now, the pressure was mounting on STVV. But pull off the magic was their coach Felice Mazzu’s time to shine. He introduced substitutes including Ferrari and Bertaccini to replenish the side after Kortrijk’s comeback.
The changes paid off immediately. Just before the 75th minute, Ferrari found the back of the net after receiving the ball from the left, nudging STVV back to the forefront with the 3-2 goal. The stadium erupted with cheers as hopes surged once again.
The drama didn’t end there, as superstar Adriano Bertaccini added to the scoreline shortly after, as he skillfully maneuvered past the substitute goalkeeper Pirard to secure the final goal at 4-2.
"Het vergroot de kloof met KV Kortrijk tot acht punten," indicated the reports, summing up the ramifications of the match and how it jeopardized Kortrijk’s chances of survival as they face mounting challenges.
For STVV, the victory was pivotal, offering a glimmer of hope after pushing themselves eight points clear of their relegation rivals and keeping their hopes alive for staying out of the drop zone. Meanwhile, for Hyverland-priced Kortrijk, the closing window becomes alarmingly narrow as their prospects for survival dim.
The stage now is set for the remaining weeks of the season, where both teams must grapple with their precarious positions: STVV eyes potential safety and Kortrijk searching for miracles to escape their dismal fate.
For the players on the pitch, the stakes couldn’t have been any higher. It was not just about three points, but about dignity, survival, and pride. Who will emerge victorious as the season progresses remains to be seen, but on this night at Stayen, STVV marked their territory with triumph.