Today Lierse blew their last chance to be able to play in the First division next season.
Antwerp made short work of the Pallieters. It ended 3-0 at the Bosuil. Both trainers gave their verdict after the match to the press:

Herman Helleputte was disappointed but didn’t appear to be too depressed:
Of course I’m disappointed to an extent. On the other hand the pain isn’t as big as it could be because we hadn’t hoped to make the play-offs for such a long time. You also have to admit that you can draw your own conclusions if you lose twice to Antwerp.

Nevertheless Lierse was dangerous early on:
We got the first best chances via De Witte and Janssens. Jarju shot against the underside of the bar just after that.
Then you think of the unwritten rule of football - the door slammed back in your face. If you go into a duel with two defenders on one striker, you have to come away with the ball. It was a mistake by Van der Jeugt, but we’re not blaming him after he’s had such a fine season. When it then becomes 2-0, you know that it’ll be difficult, if not impossible. In the second half there was the chance for Cavens. If he scores, everything is still possible of course. I’m convinced that we fell too short in terms of competitiveness in duels. Technically speaking we have the players.

Helleputte also proffered his support to Antwerp coach Warren Joyce:
They have a good chance of winning the playoffs. Their strikers are very strong. Utaka for example, has speed and power. Olguin, Darko (Pivaljevic) clever as always. He’s even got more clever which is certainly an important trump card for Antwerp.

Warren Joyce also realised that Antwerp were fortunate in the early phase of the match:
We were lucky with the shot from Jarju against the underside of the bar, but we didn’t begin the match badly, and perhaps should have had a very early penalty. Our first half was good, we threatened regularly and scored at the right times. Lierse haven’t conceded three goals often this season, which must say something. We mainly wanted to keep the 2-0 lead. Ristovic made a superb save, and our optimum team spirit ensured that we were able to control the match. The team spirit in our team has been superb all season anyway.

Joyce stated that his team deserved to be in the play-offs:
To be honest I think that we deserve to be in the playoffs. Lierse also deserved to be, they play good football.
Luckily for us we don’t have to play against them in the playoffs. We showed the hunger and the ‘drive’  and played as a team, and as long as we play our way we have a chance and are not afraid of anybody. I’m looking forward to the next six matches.

On Lierse TV you can watch an interview with Maged Samy

Antwerp had most of the possession in the first half, and created the better chances. After only 4 minutes, Antwerp were denied a penalty when Trenson fell in the box. Immediately afterwards,  Janssens missed from under the crossbar from a header from De Witte. Antwerp had a couple of other good chances, before Jarju hit the underside of the bar with an effort from outside the area on 22′.
On 28′ Olguin beat a couple of Lierse players down the right, and crossed low into the area. Van der Jeugt was only able to parry the ball into the path of Utaka - 1-0
On 38′, a corner for Antwerp was headed in at the near post by Utaka -2-0. On the stroke of halftime, Olguin missed an excellent chance to put the result beyond any doubt for Antwerp.

At halftime, Cavens replaced Samir, but Lierse struggled to get a hold on the game.
On 70′ the match was decided when Olguin beat Van der Jeugt with a header. Lierse never totally gave up hope of at least a consolation goal, but it wasn’t to be. The Lierse fans sang their support to the end, but it’s Antwerp who will compete in the play-offs.
Another season in 2nd division beckons for Lierse.

Referee:  Gumienny

Antwerp : Ristovic, Van Hemert, Fränkel, Pivaljevic (’80 Baert), Utaka, Slovic, Addo Akwei, Trenson, Carratta, Jelicic, (’71 Geeroms), Olguin (’83 Glouftsis)
Subs:  : Wauthy, Baert, Glouftsis, Geeroms 

Lierse: Van der Jeugt, Bojovic , Buyens (’80 Van der Zijl), De Corte, De Witte, Frans, Janssens, Jarju, Miller, Samir (’45 Cavens), Wahed (’60 Rimkus)
Subs Lierse: Goris, Cavens, Rimkus, Vanderzijl

Goals:  1-0 Utaka 28′, 2-0 Utaka 38′, 3-0 Olguin 70′
Booked :  Frans, Jarju, Carratta

Attendance: 11500

The Brewery De Koninck will launch a promotion in the run-up to the Antwerp-Lierse match on Sunday.

For every goal that Lierse scores, the De Koninck brewery will provide 2 free barrels.

The free ‘bollekes’ will be tapped in the Themacafé on Sunday from 18.30

The Coaching staff has announced the squad for the final league match at Antwerp on Sunday.
Lierse will go to the Bosuil with a squad of 17 players, which will be reduced to 15 when there.

Ernandes (sprain), Peeters (achilees), Ventose (stomach muscle) and Vleminckx (sprain) are out injured.

The 17-man squad:
Bojovic Petar, Buyens Yoni, Cavens Jurgen, De Corte Thomas, De Witte Seth, Develer Kane, Frans Frederik, Goris Nathan, Janssens Chris, Jarju Mustapha, Miller Charlie, Omar Mohammed, Rimkus Lorenzo, Samir Achmed, Van der Jeugt Sven, Van der Zijl Jerome en Wahed Mohammed

Lierse play their deciding match on Sunday away at Antwerp, with a place in the play-offs at stake. There were only 1,000 tickets made available for Lierse supporters, whilst demand was much higher. Therefore the Lierse board has decided to erect a big screen at the Lisp, in conjunction with ATV and Barco, so that you can follow the match live with other Lierse fans.

The screen (10 m²) will be set upon the side of the pitch, supporters can stand/sit on the Berg or Stand 3. The income fee will be 3€, tickets can be bought in advance at the ticket office, from 10.00-12.00, and from 14.00 -17.00 on Friday. On Sunday the turnstiles are open from 13.30. In exchange for your entrance ticket, you will receive one free drink at the drink stall.

Supporters to wave the players off to the match
A proposal has come from a supporter to provide extra motivation for the players by waving them off at Kessel. We will do this with pleasure. Whoever wants to give our players a warm send off, can come to the training ground in Kessel. The players leave at 12.30. The idea is to use the youth pitch parking area to park your car, and to be there by 12.00. From then we’ll gather in front of the first team changing rooms, and ensure a good send off for our players.

Sale of JAKO stock in Fanshop
On Saturday (from 13.00 to 17.00) and Monday (13.00 to 17.00), the Fanshop will be open for the sale of JAKO stock from the 2007-08 season at reduced prices.

Lierse player Frédéric Frans has been called up for the U-19 friendly international vs Japan. This match takes place tonight at the Stadsparkstadion of KV Turnhout. Kick-off is 19.00, admission is free.

The full squad:
Alderweireld Toby (Ajax Amsterdam), Baguette Cyprien (Sp. Du Pays De Charleroi), De Lange Nicolas (YRKV Mechelen), De Pever Daan (F.C.V. Dender EH), Frans Frédéric (K. Lierse S.K.), Cavallo Anthony (RAEC Mons), Gendarme Lionel (R. Standard De Liège), Ghesquiere Geoffrey (Auxerre), Gillis Cor (RSC Anderlecht), Huyghebaert Jeremy (R. Exc. Mouscron), Meeus Roy (Club Brugge), Rymenants Yannick (PSV Eindhoven), Tamsin Nicholas (Cercle Brugge), Vandenbossche Tom (Club Brugge), Vanthournout Jeroen(K.S.V. Roeselare), Sutchuin Arnaud (FC Brussels), Vossen Jelle (KRC Genk) and Wuytens Stijn (PSV Eindhoven)

The Lierse Reserves played their last league match of the season on a sunny Tuesday evening. At half-time it was 0-0. Just after the break Meyers put Lierse 1-0 up, but Eysackkers equalised for Antwerp ten minutes later.
Lierse had a ball cleared from the line just afterwards, but there were no further goals.

K. LIERSE SK.:
GORIS, WOUTER (55′ VAN DEN BROECK), VAN DEN MEUTTER, WEUTS, RABIE YASSIN, MEYERS, MERTENS, DE KEERSMAECKER (74′ GYS), DEVELER, BAETENS (69′ VAN DER VEKEN), BAKRI (46′ DEUIS).

R ANTWERP FC:
JOCHEM TANGHE, ADRIAENSSENS, RIJMEN, VERBOVEN, FOSTIER, DEPROFT (41′ BAERT), LENAERTS (58′ AMADOUDADA), EYSACKKERS, ZOUNAK, VERVECKKEN, PELGRIMS, BOES.

DOELPUNTEN:
54′ MEYERS 1-0
63′ EYSACKKERS 1-1

Yoni Buyens and Lierse have after a mutual discussion signed an improved contract for the 2008/09 season.

The signing of this contract is proof of the fact that Lierse wants to add power to its ambitions.

Neel De Ceulaer and Leo Theyskens are happy that Yoni believes in the building of a new Lierse, and are sure that he can play an important role in that.
Yoni has developed both last season and this, as a stronghold in midfield, and is a role model for the Lierse youth. 

At the invitation of Maged Samy, Abd El Hamed Yahya, the Egyptian Minister of State, attended Sunday’s home match vs Hamme.
Yahya is currently in Belgium to look at the plans of five final year students from Antwerp High School of Architecture.

The five students, including K Lierse SK supporter Dennis Vermonden, are designing, at the request if the City of Luxor and the Flemish action group www.liveisbeautiful.be, a new school/hospital for the poor inhabitants

The Lierse Reserves play their Reserve match against Antwerp on Tuesday evening, the kick-off at the Lisp is at 19.30.

The following First team players are part of the squad:
Kane Develer, Nathan Goris, Jeroen Mertens, Christophe Meyers, Omar Yassin, Jerome Vanderzijl and Koen Weuts