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 v Anderlecht, season 1975-1976
TWO HATTRICKS… AND THEN “POLLEKE” LAMBERT SCORES THE WINNER
“Spectacular football” and “loads of goals”, that are Beerschot’s characteristics this season. So they were the key words in our search to find an unforgettable match against Anderlecht. And that eventually took us back to January 1975, to a game with goals galore, a unexpected and unforgettable come back… and a happy end.
The Beerschot v Anderecht game from 44 years ago had everything in it that makes football one of the most entertaining sports on the planet. Our ‘Mannekes’ started in style with Guido Mallants in a decisive role as playmaker. Paul Lambert scored twice and Walter Meeuws added a third goal to give Beerschot a 3-0 lead just after half time. Game over it seemed… but then, on the hour, Anderlecht made an incredible come back, with three goals in as many minutes. A world record hattrick by Gille Van Binst.
Beerschot looked down and out, but again it was Mallants who impressed with a faultless display. He picked up the pieces and outclassed the Anderlecht defence with his magical left foot . Paul Lambert scored his third goal in the 74th minute and secured Beerschot’s victory… although Anderlecht created two goal scoring opportunities in the dying minutes by Arie Haan and Peter Ressel. But Beerschot goalkeeper Dré Lauryssen palmed both shots wide and over the bar. What a sensational game of football. What a turnaround. The crowd in the Olympic Stadium erupted.
It was quite remarkable that Juan Lozano was subbed halfway the second half. It didn’t happen very often that coach Rik Coppens took his key (and favourite) player off, but on that Saturday our Spanish football magician had a complete off day… which allowed Guido Mallants to shine in his place. The Belgian media gave our left footed striker the accolade he deserved, crowned him “Man of the Match” and dropped his name as a potential Belgian international. But that never materialized.
SATURDAY 3 JANUARI 1976 – OLYMPIC STADIUM
BEERSCHOT- ANDERLECHT 4 – 3
ATTENDANCE: 14.000
REFEREE: Van Melkebeke
GOALS: 13’ Lambert 1-0, 15’ Meeuws 2-0, 47’ Lambert 3-0, 59’ Van Binst3-1, 60’ Van Binst 3-2, 61’ Van Binst 3-3, 74’ Lambert 4-3
BEERSCHOT: Lauryssen, Meeuws, Tolsa, Nielsen, L. Van Gucht, Lozano (68’ Devers), Hansen, Van Pelt, Lambert, Sanon, Mallants
ANDERLECHT: Ruiter, Van der Elst, Palmers, Thissen, Dockx, Haan, Van Poucke (55’ De Groote), Ressel, Van Binst, Coeck, Rensenbrink
YELLOW CARDS: Haan, Dockx, Van Pelt
Beerschot finished the 1975-1976 season in 7th place, behind champions Club Brugge, Anderlecht, RWDM, Lokeren, Waregem and SK Beveren. Our good neighbours Berchem Sport were relegated to Division 2, together with Racing Mechelen.
Coach Rik Coppens used 25 players, five of them promising youngsters that came through the Youth Academy from the Wilrijkse Pleinen. The first team squad: André Lauryssen, John Dujardin, Julien Van Opdorp, Walter Meeuws, Adri Van Staeyen, Louis Van Gucht, Arto Tolsa, Jean Rylant, Guy Provost, De Ridder, Benny Nielsen, Rudi Devers, Pierre Deraet, Luc Peeters, Jos Van Pelt, Paul Muyshondt, Juan Lozano, Paul Lambert, Tommy Hansen, Walter Cornelis, Chico Cabral, Guido Mallants, René Mücher, Emmanuel Sanon and Rudy Van Landeghem.
Guido Mallants was our club topscorer with 10 goals. Lozano scored 9 times while our Haitian World Cup star Emmanuel Sanon netted seven.
By Danny Geerts
