Early Croky Cup defeat leaves KV Kortrijk searching for drive

KV Kortrijk’s players trudged off the pitch on 27 September 2026 after an early exit from the Croky Cup at KSK Heist, less than a week after their league win over SK Beveren. The defeat followed three missed penalties in the shoot‑out, giving the third‑division visitors a place in the 1/32 finals. We saw the disappointment on the squad’s faces.

Rotating gamble backfires

In his second match as head coach, Christophe Lepoint opted for a heavy rotation on the trip to Heist‑op‑den‑Berg. The gamble back‑fired as the side could not preserve its early lead. The rotation saw several regular starters omitted, weakening the team’s cohesion.

KV Kortrijk twice failed to hold its advantage against the third‑division hosts. After three missed spot‑kicks, the promotion‑hungry Heist progressed, ending the first‑division club’s cup run. Heist’s goalkeeper saved the decisive spot‑kick, sealing the upset.

Captain Dejaegere’s blunt assessment

"We started suddenly with less intensity and then you know it becomes difficult," captain Brecht Dejaegere said. He added, "We must be much hungrier. You are only as good as your last match. We sometimes think it will happen automatically, but that is not so. We lack enthusiasm and drive."

Consequently, KV Kortrijk now competes on only one front – the Jupiler Pro League – as they battle to avoid relegation. The cup disappointment leaves the squad focused on securing points in the league. Managerial pressure mounts as the club scrambles for points.

Lepoint had applied for promotion from interim trainer to head coach after securing the team’s first three‑point win the previous weekend. He hopes to restore the missing drive ahead of the fight for survival. The board expects Lepoint to inject the missing hunger into the side.

The programme’s overview listed Voetbal, Tennis, Formule, Programma, Jupiler Pro League, Challenger, Champions League, Europa League, Conference League and the Croky Cup among other competitions. Meer details were provided in the original bulletin, and the word Die appeared in the Dutch header.