OH Leuven’s first win of the play-offs gives Chris Coleman’s side outside chance of European football | OneFootball

Thibaud Verlinden was the hero for OH Leuven on Tuesday evening. The former Stoke City and Beerschot winger came off the bench to score the only goal of the game against Standard Liege. Going into the game OH Leuven had drawn all four of their games in the play-offs so far. This first win of the post-season has, thanks to results elsewhere, given the side an outside chance of European football. Chris Coleman’s side are now second in the table, just one point behind Charleroi.

Coleman spoke of his ambitions when taking over, but even he probably felt that next season was the likely time that the club would be chasing European football. However, their unbeaten start to the play-offs has kept them within touching distance of the sides around them. Coleman has rotated the side throughout the play-offs to keep the squad engaged, and against Standard this paid off.

For Standard, their chances of European football are disappearing fast. The side are on an extended run without a win in the post-season, having failed to win any of their play-off matches last season. They sit bottom of the table, four points away from Charleroi. Things could still change rapidly in this tightly fought play-off two, but their inability so far to win games does not look like it will change anytime soon.

OH Leuven and Standard will meet again on Saturday.

GBeNeFN | Ben Jackson