SANUSI AND BAETEN MAKE THE DIFFERENCE

CLUB BRUGGE NXT - BEERSCHOT   1 - 2

Two goals from Thibo Baeten and a faultless individual performance from Ryan Sanusi proved enough to secure Beerschot's second win of the season. Three golden points for our Mannekes who move up near the top of the table. Apart from the fourth quarter and the final ten minutes Beerschot were very much the better team and scored twice but after Club NXT pulled one back it all got a bit too nervy at the end.

Beerschot had a very strong first half with constant ball possession, good combination football and a handful of scoring opportunities. But Baeten, Verlinden and Rigo missed the target or were denied by Lammens. Club Brugge NXT hardly had a foot in and goalie Bill Lathouwers, who made his debut for us, was called upon only twice, and responded well with punching a high ball away and good footwork. 

Five minutes before the break Beerschot were finally rewarded when Thibo Baeten headed home after a good cross from Seydoux. 1-0 and well deserved. The home team started much better in the second half and missed two golden opportunities to equalise when first Mertens shot wide from six metres out and Engels hit the post from the penalty spot. Big relief.

Beerschot regrouped with an impressive Ryan Sanusi in a starring role in midfield, and got a second goal just after the hour. And again it was Thibo Baeten who showed his scoring ability when outplaying his opponent and cooly putting the ball in the right low corner.  

We looked home and dry but when Club NXT scored it all got a bit nervy. Luckily our defense didn't crumble and - yet again - it as Ryan Sanusi who kept his cool and eventually made sure the three points were in the bag.

ATTENDANCE: 1.250
REFEREE: Stevens
GOALS: 40' Baeten 0-1, 65' Baeten 0-2, 78' Perez 1-2
CLUB BRUGGE NXT: Lammens, Sabbe, Spileers, Ordonez, Otasowie (68' Seys), Engels, Mertens (62' Perez), Vermant (77' Homma), Mbamba, Audoor (46' Cuevas), Sandra (46' Talbi)
BEERSCHOT: Lathouwers, Seydoux, Meisl, Alhassan (82' KJoshi), Matthys, Weymans (82' Nzita),, Rigo (78' Frans), Sanusi, Verlinden, Vaca (60' Sebaoui), Baeten
YELLOW CARDS: Otasowie, Audoor, Sandra, Matthys, Sanusi, Rigo, Koshi
RED CARDS: 86' Perez

By Danny Geerts
Photo: Jan Mees