Clinging and Climbing: Sam Vines at Royal Antwerp

Next match - 30 April 2023
Mechelen @ Royal Antwerp
8:30 AM EST on ESPN+

Vines might make the bench. I could see him as a late sub if Antwerp is a head to hold the lead.

 

No vines for cup final.

 

They won 2-0:

#CrokyCup glory for @official_rafc! 🏆👏#KVMANT pic.twitter.com/RA0qjdwIw1

— Pro League (@ProLeagueBE) April 30, 2023

 

Not on bench for today vs. Union.

 

Next match - 7 May 2023
Royal Antwerp @ Genk
12:30 PM EST on ESPN+

With the Antwerp defense playing so well, I imagine that Vines will not make the bench. This is a huge match as the teams are the odds on favorite to win the title.

Antwerp has only given up 26 goals all season. That is 10 goals better than the 2nd best team.

 

Next match - 14 May 2023
Royal Antwerp vs Club Brugge
7:30 AM EST on ESPN +

This match will be huge for Antwerp. If they win, they could end the day 4 points ahead. Brugge has nothing to play for, except to play spoiler, and there is not a side they would love to prevent winning the title more than Antwerp. So there is that. With two in a row vs Brugge, Antwerp can build up an almost insurmountable lead.

I doubt Vines makes the bench. The defense is playing great right now.

 

Vines is not on the match-day squad.

 

You woke us up to tell us that?

Sorry, just kidding. I appreciate all your updates regarding our players in Belgium.

Has there been an official announcement explaining why Vines remains sidelined? I can understand that from the perspective of being (overly) cautious, but he’s been healthy for quite some time.

 

Nothing official. I suspect it is mostly a why change what is not broken. Since the return from the World Cup, the team has given up only 14 goals over 24 matches. I think it is simply that.

 

Next match - 21 May 2023
Club Brugge vs Royal Antwerp
7:30 AM EST On ESPN +

Antwerp could move 4 points clear. I doubt Vines will make the bench.

 

Not on bench or in the lineup.

 

How Antwerp wins the title tomorrow:
A win at Genk or two draws.

2nd Place
For Antwerp to finish second, they would need to collect less points than Union on Sunday. Regardless, as long as they avoid defeat to Genk, a top two place is assured.

3rd Place:
Antwerp loss plus a Union win or draw.

 

Next match - 4 June 2023
Antwerp @ Genk
11:25 AM EST on ESPN +

It should be a fun match. I bet he travels with the team to celebrate in case they win.

 

Is not on the bench, nor does he start.

 

Congrats to Vines?

 

Antwerp wins the title with an insane last 20 min in both matches. Vines and Co will be in the Champions League and are Cup winners on top of their League title.

Hope for a strong recovery for Vines and lots of playing time next season.

 

I would say Yes, when he went down, they were near the top of the table, and he was a starter. So yes.

 

By the way, Sam Vines met with Red Bull NY U13s a couple days ago as they were in Antwerp for a tournament (which they are in the finals of).

Thanks to @official_rafc and @USMNT player Sam Vines for taking the time to speak with our U13 players and answer questions! pic.twitter.com/pCcZbgLo6p

— Red Bulls Academy (@RedBullsAcademy) June 1, 2023

 

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The final goal for Antwerp.

 

Antwerp will be in the Playoff Round of the Champions League.

 

From the father of Sam Vines:



They had the trophy ceremony in Antwerp so I do not know if he was in Genk or not. They had the trophy on a helicopter so it could get to where it needed to go. It started in Genk, then flew to Brussles, then made its way back towards Genk, then touched down in Antwerp.

 

Not sure how to take this. Royal Antwerp played to a 1-1 draw with Challenger Pro League team Lierse. 23 played for Antwerp, and Vines was not one of them.

 

Got some game time today in a 120 minute friendly:

RAFC – eerste 60’: J. Butez – J. Bataille – T. Alderweireld (c) – R. De Laet (31’ S. Vines) – G. Avila – A. Yusuf – C. Scott – J. Ondrejka – A. Muja – G. Kerk – V. Janssen

— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) July 8, 2023

RAFC – tweede 60’: S. Lammens – M. Davis – Z. Van den Bosch (c) – N. Wyns (91’ A. Soussi) – S. Vines (76’ S. Elmazhad) – G. Mbuyi-Mbayo (110’ D. Vanhees) – A. Verstraeten – M. Horemans – V. Udoh – G. Degallaix – A. Amal (101’ L. Krasniqi)

— Royal Antwerp FC (@official_rafc) July 8, 2023

Looks to be about the equivalent of a half of playing time.

 

Good to see he got into the match.

 

Team write-up here. For what it is worth, one of the goals AEK scored happened in the 61', one min after he got onto the field. There was one prior to him stepping on the field, and one after he left.