A DRAW AFTER A TOPSY-TURVY GAME OF FOOTBALL

STANDARD SL16 - BEERSCHOT  2 - 2

No second win in a row for Beerschot but 'only' a draw in a desolate Sclessin Stadium after a two faced game in which our Mannekes were dominated by an eager Standard in the first half but reacted well after the break. During the second half Verlinden and Rigo had the opportunities to win the game but failed to score. Also Standard weren't great in the box as they missed four golden chances in the first 45 minutes to claim victory.

Beerschot lacked concentration in the first quarter of an hour and were lucky to only trail by the one goal at half time. The alarm bells went off after just 45 seconds, when our left flank was outran and outplayed but Berberi saw his shot go over the crossbar. Also Kuavita should have scored with an easy header but aimed wide. Both Meisl and Vanhamel had come to the rescue to prevent Standard... but were eventually beaten on the stroke of half time when Kuavita was given too much space in the heart of our defense and could easily score in between three Beerschot defenders. A shot from Vaca and a dangerous curling ball from Koshi (beautifully saved by Poitoux) were the only opportunities for our Mannekes.

Beerschot made amends in the second half, upped the tempo, produced some flowing combinations and pushed the home team back. Seydoux scored an early equaliser after a nice move between Vaca and Verlinden and Van den Bergh was unlucky when his shot bounced back from the crossbar. We should have won the game in that period, had the chances to do so but Verlinden waited too long to put the ball in the net from only ten metres and Rigo saw his shot go narrowly wide.

Standard looked out but were given an opportunity to get back in the game when they were awarded a questionable penalty from which El Fanis scored. But Beerschot had the last word with a well taken equaliser from Alhassan who converted a nice cross from Sebaoui. Two-two the final score.

ATTENDANCE: 600

REFEREE: Debeuckelaere

GOALS: 41' Kaivita 1-0, 46' Seydoux 1-1, 83' El Fanis 2-1 (penalty), 87' Alhassan 2-2

STANDARD SL16: Poitoux, Rizzo, Banse, Diallo, Kuavita, Paulo da Silva (86' Behti), Berberi (64' Gülük), Duplus, Brrou, Mayanga (78' El Fanis), Ghaldi (64' Mawete Kinsiona)

BEERSCHOT: Vanhamel, Seydoux (82' Weymans), Van den Bergh, Meisl, Matthys, Koshi (65' Alhassan), Nzita (59' Rigo), Sanusi, Verlinden (82' La Morte), Vaca, Baeten (65' Sebaoui)

YELLOW CARDS: Baeten, Diallo, Duplus, Seydoux, Mayanga, Mawete

RED CARDS: none

By Danny Geerts
Photo: Jan Mees