With Davidovic gone, Svilar decides to changes things around a bit, sending out the side in a 3-5-2 line up, with Addo, Frankel and van Hemert at the back, Vukomanovic and Trenson bolstering midfield, giving De Vriese, Pivaljevic and Jelicic more freedom to find Coulibaly and Kenmogne up front. The visitors coach Grandjean lines his side up in a 4-5-1 formation with Koita alone up front.

Match Summary – 1st Half

The home side are hungry for the win and the points and are straight into attack. Trenson pushes up, tries to cross but the ball is deflected by a visiting defender. Virton are not to be cowed and Ristovic has to dive at the feet of a striker, then Bendaha hits his shot high and over. 8 minutes on the clock and Coulibaly, set free after good approach work by Pivaljevic and Kenmogne, hits the leg of Leyder, much to the frustration of Jelicic.

Jelicic then has a go, but his shot is too high. Plenty of action in the opening 15 minutes, Bendaha slaloms through the home defence only to find Ristovic in his way. The new defensive line-up is not working and Svilar falls back on the more familiar 4-4-2 formation.

The referee is not helping matters for Royal Antwerp, ignoring obvious fouls on De Vriese, Pivaljevic and Jelicic whilst being all to quick to penalise the home side. Lambot tries with an overhead which fortunately lands on the top of the net. Lamonaca is taken off injured, replaced by Jacmot. Royal Antwerp slowly take control of the match, Frankel finds Pivaljevic with a long pass, but the latter’s cross is headed clear by a defender. Kenmogne tries a shot, but it is straight at Leyder.

A well worked attack finds Coulibaly but his only reward is a corner, which Frankel promptly heads high and over. Frankel it is again who tries his luck after smart play between De Vriese and Jelicic, but the result is no better. Van Hemert also has to make the VIP’s duck with a wayward shot which goes high and over. Ten minutes from the break and Coulibaly can only help push a cross from Pivaljevic wide.

Vukomanovic is unable to convert a free kick on the edge of the area, his effort going over. De Vriese is flagged offside twice in succession and the officials are greeted with a chorus of abuse and whistling. After 45 minutes of somewhat sterile football the referee blows his whistle with Virton hardly troubling the home defence but equally Royal Antwerp unable to take the chances on offer.
Half Time 0-0.

Match Summary – 2nd Half

The home fans are hoping for better things in this half, and are not afraid to voice their frustrations as well. Godart is quickly into the referee’s book. Royal Antwerp up the pace and it brings instant reward. A Virton defender completely misses an interception, Kenmogne is able to lay the ball into the path of Jelicic and he blasts home, the first time Royal Antwerp has been in front for 9 matches. (1-0).
The home side continue to put pressure on the visitors, Kenmogne takes a free kick and Leyder has to be at his best to save. The visitors are starting to lose their composure and Gustin, Detremmerie and Koita are all shown yellow in quick succession. Van Hemert is having a good match, he works his way forward on the right and crosses, Leyder has to punch clear. He also has to be alert to a cross cum shot by Jelicic which Pivaljevic is just unable to get to.

Just past the hour Koita, apparently onside, is 1 on 1 with Ristovic and loses the battle of wills to the keeper who saves with his feet. Pivaljevic is shown yellow and will miss the next match away to ROC Charleroi. Virton are not able to make much of a fist, Detremmerie has a shot from distance but to little effect. The lack of a real opposition lulls Royal Antwerp into a false sense of security and they start to lose out in midfield, however Virton are unable to make use of the extra space.

Van Hemert blocks Koita on 2 separate occasions. From a corner Koita almost gets the equaliser, his shot on the rebound disappearing into the side netting. De Vriese is brought off and Gbarssin sent on to win the ball and strengthen midfield. Pivaljevic dribbles his way through the right side of the defence and finds Jelicic, his low shot is well saved Leyder, and Pivaljevic cannot score from the rebound.

Virton continue to try from long range, Gustin and Koita not troubling Ristovic. With 5 minutes to go the referee’s assistant see’s a handball by a Virton defender in the penalty area and the referee awards a penalty, much to the anger of the Virton team. Pivaljevic keeps his cool and scores low to Leyder’s left, unfortunately the referee decides that the spot kick should be re-taken. Whatever the reason, Pivaljevic finds the same corner of the net and doubles the lead. (2-0).

Not a minute later Virton threaten to prick the bubble of joy as Vendesande let’s fly from long range and scores, a replica of the goal with which Royal Antwerp lost the away game to FC Brussels. (2-1). So with 2 minutes left it is all hands on deck to protect the lead, and with Virton pressing forward they leave gaps at the back. Unfortunately Kenmogne and Jelicic are unable to stretch the lead. The last action is Pivaljevic substituted by Verbiest and a yellow card for Jelicic.
Full Time 2-1.