BEERSCHOT - KV OOSTENDE 0 - 2
Fourth consecutive defeat for Beerschot on Saturday night and another kick in the teeth. This home game against KV Oostende was an important one: taking the three points was the only option to stay in contention with the other teams in the lower regions of the table and keep our rescue hopes intact. For forty minutes Beerschot dominated the game and created a couple of chances, with Oostende being second best all over the pitch. But two goals in as many minutes from the visitors at the end of the first half half spoiled the party.
Beerschot started with a lot of grit and put the pressure on right from the start but didn't capitalise. Shots from Holzhauser, Suzuki and Dom missed the target or were deviated by the Oostende goalie and his defenders. Twice the ball ended up on the roof of the goal. Oostende's finishing was much more efficient as they showed in the final minutes of the first half. The Beerschot defense was all over the place when Ambrose and Gueye dribbled their way into the box and lashed out. Avoidable goals they were. It could have been even worse but Rocha's free kick was nicely palmed away from under the bar by Vanhamel on the stroke of half time.
During the break coach Lucho Torrente brought on three substitutes in an attempt to change the game pattern: Lemos in defense, Shankland and Noubissi up front. Again Oostende were pushed back in their own box, but again the shots from Halaimia and Dom went narrowly wide. Or Beerschot's good intentions were stopped by a frustrating offside flag from the linesman. After a while fear of failure and nervousness took over, passing became more and more sloppy. The better chance in the second half was for Shankland, with three shots in a row. But his first attempt as well as the two rebounds were saved bu Hubert. Game over.
In the final quarter both teams had a player sent off by a very inconsistent ref Dierick. Two decisions that didn't have any influence on the game anymore.
ATTENDANCE: 7.000
REFEREE: Dierick
GOALS: 41' Ambrose 0-1, 42' Gueye 0-2
BEERSCHOT: Vanhamel, Halaimia (75' Krekovic), Radic, Bourdin (46' Lemos), Van den Bergh, Dom, Pietermaat, Caicedo (46' Shankland), Vaca (84' Sebaoui), Holzhauser, Suzuki (46' Noubissi)
KV OOSTENDE: Hubert, Medley, Ndicka, Gueye (88' Atanga), Rocha, Jäkel, Fortes,, Amade, Bätzner (90+4' Patoulidis), Wylin, Ambrose (90+4' D'Haese)
YELLOW CARDS: Fortes, Amade, Bätzner, Radic, Rocha
RED CARDS: 73' Fortes, 82' Radic
By Danny Geerts
Photo: Jan Mees
