OUD-HEVERLEE LEUVEN - BEERSCHOT 0 - 0
Beerschot didn't get their first win of the season at the Den Dreef Stadium but at least took a point. Hard work and strong character were the key words in a more than adequate performance. It looks as if "Operation Safety" is finally under way. Marius Noubissi missed a unique opportunity early in the second half to put us ahead for the very first time this season but in the last half hour goalkeeper Mike Vanhamel produced three fabulous saves to keep us in the game.
Both focus and determination were good from the very start with lots of grit, fighting spirit and a positive attitude. It was the home team though that created the best chance in the first half with a shot from Dewaest, well saved by Vanhamel. Beerschot reacted when Soumaré tried his luck from the edge of the box but the ball went over the top.
OHL didn't find a gap in the well organised Beerschot defense and just after the half hour Coulibaly, Soumaré and Noubissi came close at the other end. The home team should have been a man short at the time but ref Lambrechts refused to punish Malinov for a second bookable offence after a high tackle on Pietermaat. So the red card stayed in his pocket to the disgust of the whole Beerschot family.
Beerschot started stongly in the second half with a golden opportunity for Noubissi from a Holzhauser corner. His header was saved on the line by Romo. From then on OHL took over control in midfield and threatened three times in a row. Three shots on target from De Norre, Maertens and Schrijvers were brilliantly palmed away by Vanhamel.
OHL kept the pressure on. Beerschot survived and needed a couple of lucky strokes when Kaba and Al-Taamari couldn't finish some good moves. On the counter Suzuki missed composure by kicking the ball high in the stands from our one and only chance. Bad finishing. Nil-nil in the end, a well earned draw.
ATTENDANCE: 4.500
REFEREE: Lambrechts
GOALS: none
OHL: Romo,, Ngawa, Dewaest, Özkacar, Malinov, De Norre, Al-Taamari (90+2' Vlietinck), De Sart (56' Schrijvers), Maertens, Mercier (87' Shengelia), Rezaei (56' Kaba)
BEERSCHOT: Vanhamel, Halaimia, Frans, Radic, Bourdin, Van den Bergh, Pietermaat, Coulibaly (83' Caicedo), Holzhauser (90+2' Konstantopoulos), Soumaré (59' Vaca), Noubissi (59' Suzuki)
YELLOW CARDS: Malinov, Coulibaly, Soumaré, Pietermaat, Maertens, Holzhauser
RED CARDS: 90+3' Malinov (2 yellow cards)
By Danny Geerts
