FC UTRECHT WIN THE "MEMORIAL MARC STEENACKERS" TROPHY

Fans allowed in the Olympic Stadium on Wednesday night for the fourth edition of the "Memorial Marc Steenackers" game... and that was good to see. Beerschot faced Dutch Eredivisie side FC Utrecht, who were on a roll in their Belgian training camp after beating KV Mechelen, Antwerp, AA Gent, Club Brugge and drawing with Anderlecht during the last ten days. An impressive record that continued as they also proved (a little bit) stronger than Beerschot on the night.

It was Peter Maes' team that started well with a good Van den Buijs-Holzhauser combination on the left wing, a sweet individual action from Sanyang and a shot from Okyere. FC Utrecht only threatend with a drive from Zagre but were then set on their way after a couple of misunderstandings in the home defense, from which Boussaid scored with a shot that didn't seem unstoppable. A far too easy goal to concede. On the stroke of half time Beerschot saw a goal disallowed for off side.

FC Utrecht upped the tempo, impressed with flowing ball circulation and took control over the game. Soon after the break it was Beerschot however who nearly scored an equaliser but Van den Buijs's header went narrowly wide after one of Holzhauser's well taken corners. The visitors never panicked, gradually put more pressure on the home defense... and scored a second goal that looked suspiciously off side, but was eventually allowed to stand.

In the final quarter of the game Beerschot got back in the game and scored a deserved consolation goal, created by Krekovic and finished by Eleke, two strikers who were brought on only five minutes earlier. And just before the final whistle Holzhauser was close to score the 2-2 equaliser but saw his shot go inches wide at the far post. Final score: Beerschot 1 FC Utrecht 2, with the Dutch side winning the "Memorial Marc Steenackers" trophy. 

ATTENDANCE: 1.700
GOALS: 33' Boussaid 0-1, 76' Van de Streek 0-2, 81' Eleke 1-2
BEERSCHOT: Vanhamel, Van den Bergh (84' Radic), Konstantopoulos, Van den Buijs, De Smet (84' Mboko), Halaimia, Pietermaat (66' Dom), Coulibaly (84' Belhadj), Okyere (77' Krekovic), Holzhauser, Sanyang (77' Eleke)
FC UTRECHT: Ölschläger, Kerk, Gustafson, Douvikas, Zagre, Ramselaar, Boussaid, Mamengi, Van den Berg, Mokono, Meissen
YELLOW CARDS: Holzhauser, Mallahi, Van de Streek

Text: Danny Geerts