2022–23 Belgian Cup

The 2022–23 Belgian Cup, called the Croky Cup for sponsorship reasons, was the 68th season of Belgium's annual football cup competition. The competition began on 24 July 2022 and ended with the final on 30 April 2023. The winners of the competition will qualify for the 2023–24 UEFA Europa League play-off round.

Match times up to 30 October 2022 and from 26 March 2023 were CEST (UTC+2). Times on interim ("winter") days were CET (UTC+1).

Competition format

The competition consists of one preliminary round, followed by ten proper rounds. All rounds are single-match elimination rounds. When tied after 90 minutes in the first three rounds, penalties will be taken immediately. From round four, when tied after 90 minutes first an extra time period of 30 minutes will be played, then penalties are to be taken if still necessary.

Teams will enter the competition in different rounds, based upon their 2022–23 league affiliation. Teams from the fifth-level Belgian Division 3 or lower will begin in round 1, with the exception of sixteen teams from the Belgian Provincial Leagues which were randomly drawn to start in the preliminary round. Belgian Division 2 teams entered in round 2, Belgian National Division 1 teams entered in round 3, Belgian First Division B teams in round 5 and finally the Belgian First Division A teams entered in round 6. U23 teams are not eligible for the Belgian Cup and will not enter the cup.

Round and draw dates

Preliminary round

This round of matches was played on 24 July 2022^[1] and included sixteen teams playing in the Belgian Provincial Leagues.

First round

This round of matches was played on 31 July 2022.^[1]

Second round

This round of matches was played on 6 and 7 August 2022.^[1]

Third round

This round of matches was played on 13, 14 and 16 August 2022.^[1]

Fourth round

This round of matches was played on 20, 21 and 23 August 2022^[2]

Fifth round

This round of matches was played between 27 August 2022 and 25 September 2022 ^[2]

Sixth round

The draw for the sixth round was made on 28 September 2022, a few days after the conclusion of the last match of the previous round. Newly entering this round were the teams from the Belgian First Division A, with the exception of Westerlo and Seraing which had entered in the prior round. The 16 teams entering at this stage were seeded and could not meet each other. The lowest teams still in the competition were Cappellen, Lokeren-Temse and Meux, from the Belgian Division 2 (tier 4).

Lierse Kempenzonen (2) v Anderlecht (1)

10 November 2022	Lierse Kempenzonen (2)	2–2 (a.e.t.) (8–9 p)	Anderlecht (1)
20:45 CET	Tabekou 24' Vekemans 78'		Silva 23' (pen.) Stroeykens 45+4'
	Penalties
	Raemaekers Rocha Schouterden Brebels Van Acker Vekemans Gillekens De Schrijver De Schryver Libert		Refaelov Leoni Diawara Sadiki Silva Delcroix Raman Ashimeru Lissens Verbruggen

Beveren (2) v Antwerp (1)

10 November 2022	Beveren (2)	2–2 (a.e.t.) (2–4 p)	Antwerp (1)	Beveren
20:00 CET	Mbokani 66', 79'		Stengs 45' Tshimanga 85' (o.g.)	Stadium: Freethiel Stadion
	Penalties
	Hoggas Mbokani Kablan Barry		Frey Muja Nsimba Balikwisha

Seventh round

This round of matches was played on 20, 21 and 22 December 2022. The draw took place on 10 November 2022 after the conclusion of the last game, which was Lierse Kempenzonen against Anderlecht.^[3] All teams left played in the Jupiler Pro League, apart from KMSK Deinze who played in the Challenger Pro League (2nd level).

Quarter-finals

The draw for the quarter-finals was made on Thursday 22 December, one day after the conclusion of the last match of the previous round. All teams left played at the top level (Belgian Pro League).^[4]

Kortrijk (1) v KV Mechelen (1)

11 January 2023	Kortrijk (1)	0–1	KV Mechelen (1)	Kortrijk
18:30 CET		Report	Walsh 90+1'	Stadium: Guldensporen Stadion Referee: Jasper Vergoote

Zulte Waregem (1) v Sint-Truiden (1)

11 January 2023	Zulte Waregem (1)	2–0	Sint-Truiden (1)	Waregem
20:00 CET	Fadera 42' Vormer 63'	Report		Stadium: Elindus Arena Referee: Alexandre Boucaut

Genk (1) v Antwerp (1)

11 January 2023	Genk (1)	0–3	Antwerp (1)	Genk
20:45 CET		Report	Janssen 4' De Laet 43' Balikwisha 50'	Stadium: Cegeka Arena Referee: Erik Lambrechts

Semi-finals

The draw for the semi-finals was made on Friday 13 January, one day after the conclusion of the last match of the previous round.^[5]

Second legs

KV Mechelen (1) v Zulte Waregem (1)

28 February 2023	KV Mechelen (1)	1–0 (3–1 agg.)	Zulte Waregem (1)	Mechelen
20:45 CET	Bates 76'	Report		Stadium: Achter de Kazerne Referee: Bram Van Driessche

Antwerp (1) v Union SG (1)

2 March 2023	Antwerp (1)	1–0 (a.e.t.) (1–1 agg.) (4–3 p)	Union SG (1)	Antwerp
20:45 CET	Janssen 56'	Report		Stadium: Bosuilstadion Referee: Lawrence Visser
	Penalties
	Janssen Keita Muja Corbanie Ávila		Nilsson Puertas Adingra Nieuwkoop Teuma

Final

30 April 2023

14:30 CEST

KV Mechelen	0–2	Antwerp
	Report	Janssen 35' (pen.) Balikwisha 81'

King Baudouin Stadium, Brussels

Attendance: 41,500

Referee: Jonathan Lardot

References