MANCHESTER CITY V CARDIFF CITY FOR A PLACE IN THE BELGIAN PRO LEAGUE? LOMMEL TO FACE KORTRIJK FOR PLACE IN THE TOP FLIGHT
Lommel deservedly beat Deinze 2-1 on Sunday afternoon to qualify for the play-off against Kortrijk. The two legged affair will determine the final side to be part of the Belgian Pro League for the next season, with the loser ending up in the Challenger Pro League. This tie pits the City Group’s Lommel against Vincent Tan, owner of Cardiff City, owned Kortrijk. Tan, unlike the City Group, has been trying to sell his club all season to no avail.
Kortrijk are coming into the battle with a little bit of momentum, haven come back from having just 10 points in February to being in the play-off. Lommel, on the other hand, did spend a lot of this season in the Challenger Pro League’s top two, which would have seen them promoted automatically. However, the side managed by Steve Bould looked the better side in their second-leg of the Challenger Pro League play-off final against Deinze.
After a deflected goal gave them the lead, they had plenty of chances to extend that but couldn’t take them. Lennart Mertens punished them in the 66th by making it 1-1 on the day, 2-2 on aggregate. However, Diego Rosa made it 2-1 to Lommel in the 80th minute and the side were able to hold out. The club are looking to return to the top flight for the first time since being relegated during the 1999-2000 season.
Nat Phillips has admitted he’s unsure where his future lies as he prepares to return to Liverpool.
The defender has spent the 2023-24 campaign on loan away from Anfield. Phillips spent the first half of the season at Celtic where he played only eight times. He then joined Cardiff City in January and featured much more regularly, making 18 appearances for the Championship club.
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