Fashion on target for KV Oostende

Chipolopolo forward Fashion Sakala converted a 74th-minute penalty to help KV Oostende to a resounding 3 – 1 home-win against Sint-Truiden in matchday 24 of the Belgian Jupiler Pro League. The result sends KV Oostende to fourth on the League and within touching distance of European continental football places.

Sakala, who has attracted the attention of several European clubs, including Steven Gerrard’s coached side, Rangers, scored his 13th League goal of the season. The goal moved him to 3rd position on the top scorer’s chart, three goals behind 2nd placed, T. Henry of O-H Leuven.

The former Spartak Moscow man started the match as the lone- center-forward in a 3-4-2-1 formation.

The first half saw the hosts dominate play. The first chance of the game fell to the visitors after a defender slipped away, but Suzuki missed far wide. The home team responded with a free-kick from D’Arpino that fell in the hands of Schmidt.

Sakala had a chance when he outplayed the goalkeeper only to have his effort hit the side net
from a difficult angle. The next chance fell to Oostende defender, Theate, who headed
over the bar when left completely unmarked at the far post.

Oostende took a deserved lead in the 38th minute when Bätzner cleverly linked up with Senegalese International, Gueye. The Senegalese man placed a slider past the goalkeeper to give the coastal boys a 1-0 lead. The visitors had two corners before half time that yielded nothing.

The first threat after the break again came from the visitors. Suzuki just couldn’t reach a failed bicycle kick from Mboyo. On the other side, Sakala banged a shot hard in Schmidt’s underbelly after being sent down the channels by Gueye.

The coastal boys doubled their lead in the 60th minute after a brilliant attack resulted in a handball in the penalty area. Gueye left Schmidt without a chance when he converted from the spot to make it 2 – 0,

Sakala continued to torment the opposition. In the 66th minute, his right footed shot from the left side of the box missed to the right.

It was not long before he had his chance to register his name on the scoresheet. A handball in the area conceded by Junior Pius resulted in a penalty. Sakala converted the resulting penalty with a right-footed shot to the top left corner.

Sakala was rested in the 78th minute. Afterward, the game was diluted by the many changes. Oostende had one more chance to add salt to the injury, only for a substitute, Mamadou Thiam to fire his shot just wide. As the match neared the end, Suzuki was able to score a consolation goal for the visitors in the 90th minute.

The game ended 3-1 in favor of Oostende. The coastal boys will have the combination of Sakala and Gueye to thank for the result. Between them, the Two have scored a combined 20-goals (51% of all goals scored by Oostende in the league). Next for Oostende is a big game against third-placed Genk next weekend