Nicholson hunting Belgian top-flight title

In his first season in Belgium, Jamaica international Shamar Nicholson is chasing for a top-flight title.

The 22-year-old striker netted his seventh goal of the season, guiding his club R.S. C Charleroi to qualification for the championship play-off of the Jupiler League after a 2-0 win in the Wallon Derby against Standard Liege’ at the Stade Du Pays Charleroi last Saturday.

Dorian Dessoleil got the opener in the 32nd minute, firing home a free kick past Liege’ goalkeeper Arnaud Bodart, who slipped on the goal line while attempting to make the save.

Nicholson doubled the lead for the home side in the 57th minute with a low finish to the bottom corner after being put through by Ali Gholizadeh with a clever back heel pass.

The result was the club’s first league victory against their rivals since March 2009 and moved them Charleroi into third place in the table with 51 points.

fight and tenacity shown

Charleroi head coach Karim Belhocine praised the fight and tenacity shown which he said was needed in a match like this. “I congratulate my players for this victory in this derby. They have shown solidity, willpower and organisation. Well done to them,” he said on the club’s website.

Belhocine credited Nicholson’s performance, saying that he was most pleased in how he contributed defensively to the effort along with his strike partner Kaveh Rezaei

“We opened the scoring by Dorian[Dessoleil] on a free kick and subsequently Shamar scored the second goal which reassured us,” he said. “Shamar and Kaveh[Rezaei] in addition to their offensive work did the necessary stopping.”

The derby win also confirmed Charleroi of their place in the six team championship play-offs with two games remaining along with regular season leaders Club Brugge, K.A. A Gent, Royal Antwerp F.C and Standard Liege’ despite the defeat. The play-offs will begin in late March where the totals of the qualified teams will be halfed and from there the teams will play each other twice home and away to determine the league champion and qualification for European competition.

Charleroi’s final two games of the regular season will be against Gent and K.V Kortrijk.