BLOOD, SWEAT, TEARS... AND HERVE MATTHYS

BEERSCHOT - CLUB NXT  1 - 0

Third league victory in a row for Beerschot who stays in touch with the top teams in Division 1B and narrowed the gap with SK Beveren and RWDM to just two points. It proved a hard fought win for our Mannekes who deservedly went 1-0 up after twenty minutes in a strong and very convincing first half. After the break Club NXT took over control, created a handfull of scoring opportunities with some good football and dangerous breakouts. But our defence kept the upper hand after quite a few scary moments.

Andreas Wieland's team started in overdrive with high pressure, pushing the young visitors from Bruges in their own box. Nzita, Baeten and Thorisson came close in the first quarter of an hour but ultimately it was Hervé Matthys who curled the ball in the left corner when the NXT defense failed to clear after yet another good Beerschot combination.

Beerschot kept up the pressure after that opening goal and Thorisson came inches short to head in our second goal at the far post. Club NXT responded with a couple of shots from outside the box but really never threatened Lathouwers, who had an easy first half.

But how that all changed after the break when Club NXT took over control in midfield and were dangerous. Our defense was overpowered and outplayed on several occasions but kept their heads cool with Lathouwers palming away two dangerous balls. Our Mannekes didn't take their chances on the break, being sloppy at the final pass, while Baeten, Verlinden and Thorisson saw their shots saved or fly wide and over.

The game remained tense and exciting until the very last minute and Dante Rigo even had to sweep away a goalbound shot on the line to save the home victory. Big relief when ref Bourdeaud'Hui blew the final whistle. 

ATTENDANCE: 4.500
REFEREE: Bourdeaud'Hui
GOALS: 21' Matthys 1-0
BEERSCHOT: Lathouwers, Seydoux, Konstantopoulos, Matthys, Van den Bergh, Nzita (45' Weymans), Rigo (90'+2 Alhassan), Sanusi, Verlinden (90' Koshi), Baeten, Thorisson
CLUB NXT: Shinton, Sabbe, Spileers, Ordonez, Talbi, Mertens (67' Engels), Homma (81' L.enn De Smet), Vermant, Liam De Smet, Audoor (74' Servais), Seys 
YELLOW CARDS: Van den Bergh, Sanusi
RED CARDS: none

By Danny Geerts
Photo: Jan Mees