Yes. Yes. Yes. League leaders Beerschot have done great business away at Eupen in the Challenger Pro League. Our Mannekes won a thrilling top-of-the-table clash 1-2 following goals from Anas Haj Mohamed and top scorer Arnold Vula. Thanks to this victory, Beerschot take three crucial points back to the Kiel, despite a nail-biting finish in the pouring rain.

Cagey first half broken open by Haj Mohamed

The top-of-the-table match at the Kehrweg Stadium started cautiously. Both teams kept their defensive organization tight, meaning major chances were initially hard to come by. Halfway through the first half, Eupen threatened briefly through Fixelles with a dangerous effort that required goalkeeper William Popp to pull off a strong save with his foot, but it was our boys who drew first blood just before halftime.

In the 44th minute, Lukas Van Eenoo nicely delivered a free-kick into the box. Anas Haj Mohamed didn't hesitate for a second, caught the ball brilliantly on the volley and shot it into the far corner past goalkeeper Lejoly: 0-1! Following a VAR check and video review, our Tunisian's fifth goal of the season rightfully stayed on the board. A wonderful bonus just before the break.

Vula decides the match on the counter-attack

Immediately after halftime, Popp had to pull off a brilliant parade to deny a shot from Nadje, after which the rebound was inexplicably missed in front of an open goal. Eupen pressed, but around the hour mark, Beerschot struck ice-cold on the counter-attack.

D'Margio Wright-Phillips played it very well, kept three defenders occupied and squared the ball perfectly to the left. The completely unmarked Arnold Vula didn't think twice, struck hard and secured the relieving 0-2! This was already Vula's seventh of the season, making him the provisional absolute top scorer in the division. A short while later, Vula even hit the post, and substitute Genki Haraguchi also saw his effort end up in the side-netting.

Pumping or drowning in the finale

In the closing stages, amid pouring rain, it became a real squeaker. Eupen threw everything forward and found a goal back in the 88th minute through Igor Plastun (1-2), after an earlier phase had already been narrowly cleared off the line. It was sink or swim in extra time, but William Popp and the Kiel defense held firm. Thus, the three points travel back to Antwerp! This coming Saturday, league leaders Beerschot will host Francs Borains on home turf. KAS Eupen   K Beerschot VA

 0-144' Anas Haj Mohamed 0-261' Arnold Vula88' Igor Plastun1-2 


Lineup24 - Antoine Lejoly
2 - Yentl Van Genechten
5 - Nicolas Gavory
10 - Kévin Nadje
11 - Ba-Muaka Simakala
19 - Bertan Caliskan
22 - Logan Delaurier-Choodet
27 - Mark Müller
28 - Rune Paeshuyse
32 - Igor Plastun
70 - Mathias Fixelles


LineupWilliam Popp - 13
Brian Plat - 4
Sem Audoor - 5
Bas Van den Eynden - 6
Lukas Van Eenoo - 8
Glenn Claes - 10
Arnold Vula - 15
Anas Haj Mohamed - 21
D'Margio Wright-Phillips - 32
Dennis Gyamfi - 76
Genki Haraguchi - 78


Substitutes3 - Precious Michael
7 - Isaac Nuhu
9 - Aron Sulejmani
13 - Lorenzo Youndje
18 - Amadou Keita
25 - Jaden Malhage
44 - Julian Renner
47 - Théo Marechal
98 - Kikas


SubstitutesMilan Govaers - 3
Toshio Lake - 7
Axl Van Himbeeck - 18
Jordan Bustin - 19
Mats Rits - 20
Edisson Jordanov - 24
Brent Stevens - 26
Takatora Einaga - 41
Ensar Brahic - 45


Cards Mark Müller (6')
Mathias Fixelles (43')

Cards Brian Plat (54')
Dennis Gyamfi (92')

Substitutions46' - Bertan Caliskan Isaac Nuhu
67' - Mark Müller Kikas
74' - Mathias Fixelles Amadou Keita
74' - Nicolas Gavory Lorenzo Youndje
74' - Ba-Muaka Simakala Aron Sulejmani
Substitutions74' - Genki Haraguchi Mats Rits
74' - D'Margio Wright-Phillips Toshio Lake
82' - Anas Haj Mohamed Milan Govaers
90' - Glenn Claes Jordan Bustin
SubjectsAnas Haj Mohamed Arnold Vula KAS Eupen