The First Annual Belgian Challenge Cup Competition
Report upon the outcome of the FA Cup, 1886
It is the opinion of this Committee that the First Annual Belgian Challenge Cup Competition has been a resounding success. With the 16 places offered filled earlier than was expected, despite this being the Cup's inaugural outing, it was clear from the outset that this was going to be a popular competition. Indeed, the 2,000-strong gate for the first match, a local derby between the Union Sportive Bruxelloise and AJAx Leuven FC at Parc de Sainte-Gertrude (which incidentally was home to both teams) was a record for Belgian football, and exceeded the size of the stands available; thankfully no incidents of note occurred, though the Committee shall be directing all teams to ensure they have supply adequate space for spectators in future. This record was not to stand for long, however, and the Committee is pleased to report that an estimated 3,200 people turned up to watch the Final.
The first round of the competition saw several notable events. The 3-3 draw between Liege United and Charleroi, followed by the same result in the replay, was the first time the a coin had to be tossed in the tournament - though some members of the Committee suggested it would be better to remove the limit on the number of replays, it was agreed that the current system (home fixtures are allocated to the clubs in the draw, with the replay being hosted by the opposing club - if no winner emerges after the replay, a coin is tossed to determine the victor of the match) was better as it ensured the efficient running of the tournament. The competitions highest scoring, and probably closest match, came in the first round, as De Haan GFC began their title bid against FC Mons. With 2 goals apiece at half-time, André Chassaigne secured his hat-trick (the tournament's first) only 3 minutes after kick-off, taking Mons into the lead - it took their Flemish opponents a full forty minutes to equalise, thereby ensuring that the match was the first of many to go into extra time. It was only in the 114th minute that the deadlock was broken, with an excellent shot from outside the box by the De Haan midfielder, Edmund Metrens, slotting into the top right-hand corner of the net to put De Haan through. The replay of match between Arlon English and Westerlo as also interesting in this regard, with all four of the match's goals coming in extra time; despite this sudden flurry of activity, it wasn't enough to prevent the progression of the two clubs from being dictated by a coin toss.
The four semi-finalists were US Bruxelloise, De Haan GFC, Antwerpen RNFC and Arlon Eglish FC. Of these teams, the Union Sportive had arguably had the easiest journey, consistently playing at home and facing an already exhausted Liege United in the second round. They found themselves drawn against De Haan, who had comfortably despatched with the Union's near neighbours, Bruxelles RAFC, 3-1 in the previous round. The game was well fought, with both teams scoring one goal in the first half; US Bruxelloise off a corner, as their striker, Frédéric Lefebvre, nimbly dropped his mad to head the ball into the net in the 34th minute, and De Haan thanks to a beautifully-timed run in the closing minutes of the half by Alain Marsaud onto a through-ball to leave him one-on-one against the keeper. A concession of a penalty by De Haan in the 56th minute for a misjudged sliding tackle that forced Lefebvre off the pitch was rescued when the Flemish keeper managed to save the shot. Indeed, both teams had a good number of shots on goal, but excellent goal-keeping was the order of the day; the one notable mistake by the Bruxelloise keeper, Thierry Mariani, cost the US the match, as he fumbled a simple catch, dropping it before the waiting feet of an opposition player. De Haan, victors 2-1 thanks to this 67th minute goal, would face either Antwerpen RNFC or Arlon English FC in the final. Arlon English, so named because it was established by a group of English immigrants who had settled in the city, were the decided underdogs going into the match, having failed to win a victory without a replay in either of the preceding rounds - their 4-2 defeat proved the bookies right, as a spirited performance ultimately failed to turn the tables. An early goal from the Royal Navy's own Lieutenant Siegfried Bracke set the tone, with Bracke making his hat-trick before the end of the half. Though the visiting side did manage to score once from a free kick in the first half, and then again from a corner early in the second, a blistering shot by Sub-Lieutenant Dirk Van Mechelen in the 78th minute, which had passed the keeper before he even had time to react, put victory out of Arlon's reach.
The final was hosted by De Haan at their ground near the town's harbour. The crowd, most formed of locals and Flemings from nearby cities like Ghent, strongly favoured De Haan over their (also Flemish) opposition - as a result of this, this Committee recommends the final is held at a neutral ground in future. The crowd, however, was not the main problem for the Antwerpen, who took an early lead when Van Mechelen negotiated his way into the penalty area and landed a shot to best the keeper - in the 38th minute, defender Petty Officer Jos De Meyer was instructed by the referee to leave the pitch for 'denying an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball' when he stuck his hands in the air to block a shot off a rebound which had left the goal-keeper on the ground. Down to ten men, and with the score equalised after a clinical penalty, the naval team were now on the back foot, and had to leave their opponents to dictate play; it is a testament to the skill and courage of Anterwerpen's players that the team only conceded two more goals in the remaining 52 minutes of the match.
The Committee wishes to publically congratulate De Haan FC on their victory, and give their thanks to the participating teams and their supporters. The Committee would also like to give particular thanks to the Members of the Board of the Belgian Football Association, for the kind donation of the Challenge Cup. We are already eagerly anticipating next year's competition.
Lord Jean-Luc Poisson, 2nd Duke of Benin
Permanent Member of the Board of the Belgian Football Association with responsibility for Competitions and Tournaments
On behalf of the Committee of the Belgian Challenge Cup Competition
Permanent Member of the Board of the Belgian Football Association with responsibility for Competitions and Tournaments
On behalf of the Committee of the Belgian Challenge Cup Competition
Table of Results
* Won resulting coin toss
First Round | ||||
| --------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------- |
| US Bruxelloise | 1-0 | FC Leuven | ||
| FC Kruibeke | 0-2 | Antwerpen RNFC | ||
| De Haan GFC | 4-3 | FC Mons | ||
| Westerlo FC | 4-1 | Mechelen AA | ||
| Liege United FC | 3-3 | SC Charleroi | ||
| Replay | SC Charleroi | 3-3 | Liege United FC* | |
| Ghent FC | 4-2 | UW Sint-Gillis-Waas | ||
| Bruxelles RAFC | 1-1 | Tournai AC | ||
| Replay | Tournai AC | 1-3 | Bruxelles RAFC | |
| Arlon English FC | 1-1 | SS Namur | ||
| Replay | SS Namur | 1-3 | Arlon English FC |
Second Round | ||||
| --------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------- |
| US Bruxelloise | 2-1 | Liege United FC | ||
| Antwerpen RNFC | 1-1 | Ghent FC | ||
| Replay | Ghent FC | 1-3 | Antwerpen RNFC | |
| De Haan GFC | 3-1 | Bruxelles RAFC | ||
| Westerlo FC | 2-2 | Arlon English FC | ||
| Replay | Arlon English FC* | 2-2 | Westerlo FC |
Semi-Finals | ||||
| --------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------- |
| US Bruxelloise | 1-2 | De Haan GFC | ||
| Antwerpen RNFC | 4-2 | Arlon English FC |
Final | ||||
| --------- | ------------------------------ | --------------------- | ------------------------------ | --------- |
| De Haan GFC | 3-1 | Antwerpen RNFC |
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