BEERSCHOT - SINT-TRUIDEN 0 - 1
Fourth home defeat in a row for Beerschot - three of them with 0-1 - and so we stay bottom of the league with one point out of a possible 21. Tonight the contrast between goodwill and effort on the one side and lack of efficiency on the other side was immense. And yet again it cost us three valuable points. Sint-Truiden opted for the awaiting-and-counter-attack type of football. One quick action on the right wing and a clinical shot in the far corner on the stroke of half time was enough to seal victory.
Coach Peter Maes drove newcomer Mauricio Lemos and the fit again pair Bourdin-Pietermaat in his starting XI. More than 8,500 fans - a good crowd for a Monday night match - created a brilliant atmosphere. Beerschot started well, with chances for Coulibaly and Noubissi... but the first shot on target came from the visitors with a free kick from Suzuki.
Our Mannekes lost control over the midfield but nevertheless remained the more dangerous team on the night. Marius Noubissi was put through on two occasions but lacked confidence and was too selfish when he entered the STVV box. His shots went wide and over, with Holzhauser en Soumaré waiting in vain for a clever wide ball to open the score.
The visitors were much more efficient. And when Fré Frans lost a one-on-one with Suzuki it was De Ridder who picked up the loose ball and put it in the net. A clever goal. And heartbreak for Beerschot who saw both Joren Dom and Mauriio Lemos limp off with muscular injuries.
Beerschot upped the pace of the game right from the start of the second half... but were sloppy in the build up and lacked ingenuity and good ideas to dismantle the strong STVV defense. Only Fré Frans with a header and Issa Soumaré with a shot that went narrowly wide threatened. Just after the hour Shankland and Vaca were brought on to create more scoring opportunities and activate our finishing power. All in vain.
ATTNDANCE: 8.500
REFEREE: Put
GOALS: 42' De Ridder 0-1
BEERSCHOT: Vanhamel, Lemos (38' Konstantopoulos), Frans (64' Vaca), Van den Bergh, Dom (10' Halaimia), Pietermaat, Coulibaly, Bourdin, Holzhauser, Soumaré, Noubissi (64' Shankland)
STVV: Schmidt, Hashioka, Konate, Suzuki (72' Brüls), Cacace, Hayashi (72' Hara), De Ridder (86' Matsubara), Texeira, Lavalee, Durkin, Leistner
YELLOW CARDS: Hollerbach, Coulibaly, Leistner, Van den Bergh, Pietermaat, Frans, Suzuki, Lavalee
RED CARDS: none
By Danny Geerts
Photo: Jan Mees
