2021 Belgian Cup Final
# 2021 Belgian Cup Final

The 2021 Belgian Cup Final, named Croky Cup after the sponsor, was the 66th Belgian Cup final. On 13 March 2021, Standard Liège qualified for their 18th final, losing 9 and winning 8. Genk qualified one day later, reaching their sixth final, winning all but one, namely their latest appearance when they lost the 2018 Belgian Cup Final to Standard Liège. It took place on 25 April 2021 and was won by Genk.

## Route to the final

| Standard Liège | Standard Liège | Standard Liège | Standard Liège | | Genk | Genk | Genk | Genk |
| - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Opponent | Result | Legs | Scorers | Round | Opponent | Result | Legs | Scorers |
| Seraing (II) | 4–1 | 4–1 away | Bokadi, Jans, Klauss, Muleka | Sixth round | Tessenderlo (III) | 5–0 FF | 5–0 FF away | |
| Kortrijk (I) | 1–1 | 1–1 away (a.e.t.) (6–5 p) | Laifis | Seventh round | Sint-Truiden (I) | 1–0 | 1–0 home | Onuachu |
| Club Brugge (I) | 1–0 | 1–0 home | Muleka | Quarter-finals | Mechelen (I) | 4–1 | 4–1 home | Thorstvedt (2), Muñoz, Bongonda |
| Eupen (I) | 1–0 | 1–0 away | Amallah | Semi-finals | Anderlecht (I) | 2–1 | 2–1 away | Onuachu, Miazga (o.g.) |

## Match

### Summary

In an empty King Baudouin Stadium, both teams started the match eagerly. Genk came close to an early goal, with a shot by Kristian Thorstvedt hitting the post and a first serious warning for Standard Liège. Standard Liège, who had been relying on their fighting spirit throughout the season, lacked sharpness and creativity in the final third of the pitch. At the back, however, they did manage to keep control of the ball and kept Genk at bay after the initial challenge by Thorstvedt. During the 1st half, Théo Bongonda and poacher Paul Onuachu were firmly in the defense's grip.

At the start of the second half, the game split open, when Hugo Siquet lost the ball, Genk immediately sent it to Junya Ito, who left Arnaud Bodart without a chance with a crossed shot. The goal gave Genk confidence and the Limburg team gradually took more and more control of the match. Although Genk was the better team, they still had to watch their backs. The Genk defense had a hard time dealing with the excellent substitute Jackson Muleka, who had the equalizer at his feet, but his shot was a miss. As the game progressed, Standard was forced to take more risks, allowing more space for Genk. Ten minutes before the end of the game, Bongonda took advantage of this to slide in the 0-2. Muleka immediately brought the excitement back with a strong header, but Genk survived the final offensive, winning their 5th Belgian Cup and being assured of European football for the coming season.

### Details

| Standard Liège | Genk |
| - | - |
| GK | 16 | Arnaud Bodart |
| RB | 41 | Hugo Siquet |
| CB | 5 | Moussa Sissako | 90+2' |
| CB | 34 | Konstantinos Laifis |
| LB | 24 | Nicolas Gavory | 63' |
| MF | 19 | Selim Amallah | 87' |
| MF | 28 | Samuel Bastien | | 75' |
| MF | 8 | Gojko Cimirot | | 66' |
| MF | 26 | Nicolas Raskin | 71' |
| CF | 14 | Klauss |
| MF | 32 | Michel-Ange Balikwisha | | 57' |
| Substitutes: ||
| MF | 10 | Mehdi Carcela | 81' | 66' |
| FW | 17 | Jackson Muleka | 65' | 57' |
| MF | 22 | Maxime Lestienne | | 75' |
| GK | 1 | Jean-François Gillet |
| DF | 6 | Noë Dussenne |
| MF | 15 | Eden Shamir |
| DF | 21 | Collins Fai |
| DF | 33 | Damjan Pavlovic |
| Manager: ||
| Mbaye Leye ||
| GK | 26 | Maarten Vandevoordt |
| RB | 23 | Daniel Muñoz | 56' |
| CB | 46 | Carlos Cuesta |
| CB | 33 | Jhon Lucumí |
| LB | 5 | Gerardo Arteaga |
| MF | 7 | Junya Ito |
| MF | 17 | Patrik Hrošovský | 90' |
| MF | 42 | Kristian Thorstvedt | | 87' |
| MF | 8 | Bryan Heynen |
| CF | 10 | Théo Bongonda |
| CF | 18 | Paul Onuachu |
| Substitutes: ||
| DF | 2 | Mark McKenzie | | 87' |
| FW | 9 | Cyriel Dessers |
| MF | 14 | Bastien Toma |
| DF | 21 | Jere Uronen |
| MF | 24 | Luca Oyen |
| GK | 40 | Tobe Leysen |
| DF | 77 | Ángelo Preciado |
| Manager: ||
| John van den Brom ||

* Assistant referees:
* Kevin Monteny
* Yves De Neve
* Fourth official:
* Jan Boterberg
* Match rules
* 90 minutes.
* 30 minutes of extra time if necessary.
* Penalty shoot-out if scores still level.
* Eight named substitutes.
* Maximum of three substitutions.
