Beerschot - Charleroi 2-1
And here it is: Beerschot's first home win of 2021. A penalty goal in added on time from Rapha Holzhauser settled this close game in which Beerschot was the better team before the break and the visitors took control in the second half. All's well that ends well... and with these three points Beerschot looks on its way to qualify for Play Off 2. What an incredible achievement that would be as a newcomer in Division 1A.
Our Mannekes created the first dangerous situations of the night with two curling crosses from Holzhauser. Van den Bergh missed the first one by a whisker while Descamps fisted away numbee two.
The pace was set rightaway: Beerschot took the initiative with Charleroi defending. The threat came from set pieces only: Rapha's corners and Van den Bergh's long throw ins. When the Charleroi goalie fumbled Sanyang was unable to punish it.
Beerschot opened the score just after the half hour from the penalty spot. Holzhauser converted from eleven metres after Sanyang had been brought down in the box by Van Cleemput. Goal number 15 for our Austrian key player.
The visitors who had created just one attempt on goal in the first half (a Rarzei shot nicely saved by Vanhamel) and opted for a more adventurous kind of football after the break now put Beerschot under pressure. They took over midfield and eventually scored an equaliser with an impressive header from Nicholson.
1-1 looked to be the final score but deep in added time Beerschot got a second penalty after a handball in the Charleroi box. And again it was Holzhauser who proved ruthless from the spot for an unexpected but ever so beautiful 2-1 victory.
ATTENDANCE: 0
REFEREE: Lardot
GOALS: 34' Holzhauser 1-0 (penalty), 69' Nicholson 1-1, 90+3' Holzhauser 2-1 (penalty)
BEERSCHOT: Vanhamel, Dom, Radic, Frans, Van den Bergh, Pietermaat, Sanusi, Holzhauser (90+3' Prychynenko), Sanyang (46' Bakkali), Brogno (90+3' Bourdin), Suzuki (77' Eleke)
CHARLEROI: Descamps, Vranjes, Van Cleemput, Gholizadeh (80' Bruno), Reazei (56'Teodorczyk), Kayembe, Nicholson, Dessoleil, Ilaimaharitra (86' Berahiuno), Fall (86' Benchaib) , Gillet
YELLOW CARDS: Fall, Kayembe, Van Cleemput, Holzhauser, Van den Bergh
RED CARDS: none
By Danny Geerts
Photos: Jan Mees
