Back in time : BEERSCHOT - ANTWERP: 1988-1989

With Beerschot starting the 2020-2021 season in the First Division, we look back at our club’s history and turn the spotlight on a corresponding fixture from yesteryear…

Today: Beerschot - Antwerp 5-1, season 1988-1989

BEERSCHOT THRASHES ANTWERP IN IMPRESSIVE FOOTBALL DEMONSTRATION

Beerschot won the “big derby” on numerous occasions the last couple of decades, but for today’s “Golden Memory” we go back to the confrontation from early September 1988, when Beerschot ran riot, won 5-1 and played some brilliant football. With the game “live” on national television as well. Overwhelming it all was. Extremely beautiful and unforgettable.

Beerschot drew one and lost four of their first five league games that season, whereas Antwerp had won three and drawn one. Consequently, our neighbours from Deurne were head on favourites that Friday night. But in the end it was Beerschot that impressed and  put the Antwerp frootball world on its head with a “champagne football” demonstation.

Some paraghraphs from François Colin’ match report in Het Nieuwsblad say it all. “The home team dominated right from the start and it was no surprise and ever so deserved that Beerschot eventually scored the opening goal. Wellens got the ball from a carambole, De Coninck saved his shot but Blanker tapped in the rebound. The Antwerp defense were struggling under Beerschot’s pressure: Goots picked up the ball, nutmegged Emmerechts and scored number two.”

“Tahamata and Goolts combined well, outplayed the Antwerp defense once again and long tall Daerden headed home for 3-0. And the Beerschot show went on and on: cross from Wellens, Goots wrongfooted a couple of Antwerp defenders and cannoned home for a fourth goal. Minutes later Wellens made it 5-0 after a good opening by Blanker. Euphoria in “het Kiel”. Antwerp’s late goal by Emmerechts couldn’t even be called ‘honorable’.”

What an impressive football night that was in the Olympic Stadium!

FRIDAY 2 SEPTEMBER 1988 – OLYMPIC STADIUM

BEERSCHOT – ANTWERP  5 – 1

ATTENDANCE: 14.000

REFEREE: Crucke

GOALS: 21’ Blanker 1-0, 33’ Goots 2-0, 54’ Daerden 3-0, 77’ Goots 4-0, 80’ Wellens 5-0, 87’ Emmerechts 5-1

BEERSCHOT: Kerremans, Masefield, Camerman, Daerden (86’ Makhi), Talbut, Vanheusden, Schaessens, Tahamata, Wellens, Blanker, Goots

ANTWERP: De Coninck, Geilenkirchen, Dekenne (51’ Taeymans), Emmerechts, Smidts, Lehnhoff, Van Rethy, Van Rooij (55’ Goossens), Pister, Van der Linden, Claesen

Patrick Goots, who had just started his first season in Beerschot’s purple and white, was voted “Man of the Match” by “Het Nieuwsblad” newspaper. It was to be his breakthrough as an easy scoring and lethal striker… who would play and score for rivals Antwerp many years later and become a club icon over there.

Beerschot coach Barry Hughes was over the moon and every so proud after that 5-1 win against his rival Georg Kessler, who was in charge of Antwerp then. “The atmosphere in the stadium and our dressing room was electric. It is the first time in my career we have been drinking champagne to celebrate a win after only six matches. It wasn’t a problem though to enjoy drinking the twelve bottles the chairman had provided. It tasted marvelous”, the Welshmen smiled.

However, the 1988-1989 didn’t go to plan for Beerschot as it was only on the very last day of the season we avoided relegation. The derby later that season at the Bosuil Stadium resulted in a 4-1 win for Antwerp, which was a bit of a sporting revanche. Just “a bit of” indeeed, as four goals aren’t five. So Beerschot was and stayed on top in the end.

By Danny Geerts