KV Mechelen stormed into the next round of the Belgian Cup with a commanding 5-1 victory over KAS Eupen at AFAS Stadion on Sunday evening. The home side produced a ruthless attacking display, turning a potentially awkward cup tie into a comfortable progression.

Match overview

Mechelen set the tone from the first whistle, pressing high and forcing Eupen into hurried clearances. The hosts dominated midfield, moved the ball quickly into the final third, and repeatedly opened up Eupen’s back line. Once the opening goal went in, the tie threatened to become one-sided very quickly.

Eupen had moments of possession but rarely threatened the Mechelen penalty area in the first half. Their defensive shape was stretched by Mechelen’s width and movement, and the visitors struggled to cope with the pace of the home side’s attacks. By half-time, the contest already looked decided.

Key moments

• 8th minute: Nikola Storm opened the scoring with a composed finish after a quick exchange on the edge of the box.
• 21st minute: Benito Raman doubled Mechelen’s lead, turning inside before firing low into the bottom corner.
• 39th minute: Rob Schoofs made it 3-0 with a well-timed run into the area and a first-time finish.
• 56th minute: Nikola Storm grabbed his second of the night, finishing a flowing team move.
• 68th minute: Eupen pulled one back through a consolation goal, a brief reminder that they remained dangerous on the break.
• 82nd minute: Patrick Pflücke restored Mechelen’s four-goal cushion and completed the scoring.

Tactical story

KV Mechelen’s biggest advantage was their midfield control. Rob Schoofs and his partners won the second balls, pressed aggressively, and prevented Eupen from building any sustained rhythm. With the visitors forced to defend deep, Mechelen’s full-backs pushed forward to create numerical superiority in wide areas.

Eupen’s back line was repeatedly exposed by Mechelen’s quick combinations. The visitors tried to defend narrowly, but that left space out wide, and Mechelen were happy to switch play before attacking the box. When Eupen did win possession, their counters were too isolated to trouble the home side for long.

Standout players

Nikola Storm was the obvious standout with two goals, constantly threatening from the left and drifting inside to combine with central attackers. Benito Raman’s movement caused problems throughout, while Rob Schoofs controlled the tempo and capped his performance with a goal. Patrick Pflücke made an impact as a substitute, adding the fifth goal late on.

For KAS Eupen, the consolation goal was a small reward on a difficult night. Their goalkeeper made several saves to prevent an even heavier defeat, and their young defenders will learn from an uncomfortable evening against a sharper opponent.

What the result means

KV Mechelen move into the next round of the Belgian Cup with confidence and attacking momentum. A 5-1 home win sends a clear message that they intend to take the competition seriously. For KAS Eupen, the cup exit allows them to focus on their league campaign, but the manner of the defeat will require a response.

The Belgian Cup result also highlighted Mechelen’s depth: multiple scorers, strong contributions from the bench, and a clean control of the game from start to finish. They will be a side to watch in the next round.