The second weekend in September saw my latest European jaunt, and indeed it was a return to Belgium for more Jupiler Pro League top flight action and a First Division Voetbal Vlaanderen (translated as First Division Football Flanders) contest, which is in the third tier in the country, and the Flanders region division (there are two First Divisions, both regionalised).
I would be doing three Pro League contests, one on Friday night and then two on Saturday, and then on Sunday the third tier game before heading home, Mechelen was the base for the weekend, which by the way is a fine city and brews some pretty special beer, some of the best I've ever tasted in fact, and the strongest by some way too!!!
And it was the cities Pro League club that were the first port of call, and a return for me to their very neat Achter De Kazerne home on Friday night, so let's begin my blog there in game one of the weekend.....
Friday 11th September
KV Mechelen Vs RSC Anderlecht (Achter De Kazerne)
It wasn't a bad game to start off the weekend, these clubs are only about 30km apart, but both haven't started the season as well as they hoped, especially the hosts, who are yet to register a win in the first five outings, and have only picked up two points from a possible fifteen so far, and after last weekends 4-0 reverse at home to KVC Westerlo, a side who hadn't won in their first four games, is was paramount they put in a good showing in front of their fans against a big name in Belgium.
Anderlecht are one of Belgium's biggest & well known clubs and have won the Belgian League a record thirty four times & always used to be one of the front runners in the countries top flight, but they are not one of the front runners in recent years & have not won a league championship for almost a decade now, they have had a mixed start to this season, picking up seven points in their five games so far and come into this contest following a goalless draw at home to KRC Genk, who are a point above them in the standings.
Goals appear to be an issue for both as well, Mechelen have only five goals so far this season, and have shipped thirteen already, whereas although Anderlecht have only conceded five, they have only netted three goals so far this season, so to say goalscoring is an issue for both is an understatement, and Mechelen's defence doesn't look particularly solid as yet either.
The game itself appeared to see two sides struggling for confidence going up against each other, and in a first period that lacked quality, it was the visitors who managed to edge themselves ahead late on in the half, a nice move seeing Koutsoupias ball into the box converted first time by Bentayeb, and it meant Anderlecht would go into the break a goal to the good.
Mechelen were much better after the break and really should have grabbed something from the contest, but you can see why they have struggled for goals so far, and missed some very good openings, meaning they would fall to another defeat, Anderlecht were hanging on at times in the second period but did manage to battle to a very hard fought win, but they looked far from impressive and based on this performance both will need much improvement heading forward.
A great atmosphere though at the stadium, my second visit and another enjoyable evening, even if the football on offer wasn't the best at times.
Full time KV Mechelen 0 RSC Anderlecht 1
So, one game down, and another three to go, two more from the top division on Saturday, let's see what happened in those.....
Saturday 12th September
SK Beveren Vs Sint-Truiden VV (Freethiel Stadion)
Beveren, which is not to far from Antwerp and about 50km north of Brussels, was the next port of call, as hosts SK welcomed Sint-Truiden, which is just over 100km away and South West of Hasselt and Genk, in a game between two sides who are only two points apart in the standings so far, both have two wins from their opening five games so far too.
SK picked up one of those wins last time out, at this very ground when they saw off OH Leuven 3-0 (the visitors have lost all five games now) so it was a very important win for Beveren & no doubt a morale boosting win after loosing three of their first four outings, they were up against an STVV side who had thumped RAAL La Louviere 4-0 at home last time out, also their second win after only one in four as well. (RAAL have only one point all season as well)
So, both had netted comfortable home wins against sides who had started the season badly & in doing so potentially kick started their own seasons with important wins, how would this one go? Madly, Beveren had only scored two goals in their first four, yet netted three last time out, STVV now have twelve so far this season, that's over two a game, no doubt then the hosts defence, who are letting in on average two a game, would be tested somewhat against the visitors forward line.
Beveren won the Challenger League last season to win promotion to the top flight, and after netting that fine win last time out, they were looking to build on that victory, and I feel they will be ok this season, they have two players in the shape of Lokesa & Margaritha who will cause teams problems at the back this season for sure, they certainly caused STVV them in this game.
It was a game played with a fantastic tempo in a nice arena and a good atmosphere, and quite warm and sunny conditions too, both sides looked to attack and wanted to win the game, which made way for a good watch, but the contest was decided with a double blow from the hosts early in the second period.
The superb Lokesa burst his way into the box seven minutes into the half, and as he was about to shoot, he was fouled, resulting in penalty, and he duly picked himself up to emphatically dispatch the spot kick, and the ground was now bouncing to the techno music blaring out following a hosts goal, and only three minutes later and with the visitors trying to respond, they were totally caught out by a lightning counter.
Bruls, the veteran 37-year old who also had a superb game for the hosts, against a former club no less, broke clear and with three on one he played in Margaritha who with just the keeper to beat lifted a wonderful finish over him and into the net, it was a brilliant finish, and moment, and the crowd and atmosphere was now at fever pitch, the home side were flying and two goals clear.
You can see why the visitors had scored plenty this season already, but you could also see why they had conceded almost as many too, very open to say the least, and the hosts had further chances to add more, the visitors had plenty of possession but just could not break down a solid hosts back line, and they ran out 2-0 winners and picked up another home win and a clean sheet to boot.
Beveren looked dccent and are very quick in transition for sure, STVV will also be ok despite this defeat, they have plenty of firepower which should see them have a solid season, but will always be punished in the counter if they continue to defend so high up the pitch, and lovely stadium and a nice club too, great atmosphere and an enjoyable watch too.
Full time SK Beveren 2 Sint-Truiden VV 0
Union Saint-Gilloise Vs Lommel SK (Stade Joseph Marien)
Saturday night saw me in Brussels, at the home of last seasons champions, Union Saint-Gilloise, and they had started the season like they had finished the last, five games, four wins, and no defeats so far, although they were not top courtesy of KAA Gent, who had won all five of their games so far, but having netted fourteen goals and conceding only three so far, they were starting as they meant to go on for sure.
Lommel, who are 100km or so North East of the capital, are smack bang in the middle of the early season table having netted two wins from their five games, that's seven points from fifteen so far, they have only averaged a fraction over a goal a game, however they have only conceded three goals in five games, which is a mean back line, although this would be some test at the current champions and a good gage at how good their defence really is.
Union ended Sporting Charleroi's 100% start to the season last time out by winning 3-2 there last weekend, and that was against a backline who had only conceded two in their first four outings, take note Lommel, who themselves came into this contest off the back of a narrow 1-0 home defeat to last season's runners up Club Brugge KV, running them very close it seems, take note Union, although with this being at Stade Joseph Marien, it was a different kettle of fish for the visitors compared to last weekend at home.
This game saw me in the away section with the Lommel faithful, who turned up in decent numbers to cheer on their side, but after just six minutes their side were already 2-0 down as the hosts flew out of the traps, Biondic assisting both goals, finding Zeneli after three minutes who curled home into the bottom corner, and then teeing up Mofokeng to send home a first time finish, and it already felt like it would be a long night for the visitors.
Lommel to their credit did settle somewhat after this for the remainder of the half and did have some good spells, but Union did have further chances to add to their lead too, it remained 2-0 for some time though, but in the 65th minute the Lommel backline parted like the rea sea and allowed Hurtevent to run clear and slot home, 3-0, and after this it was a matter of how many the hosts would get.
It would turn out to be two more, Florucz finding the bottom corner in the 88th minute, and then adding another in stoppage time, which was disallowed initially but after a lengthy VAR check, the goal was given, and capped a fine evening for the hosts, the Lommel fans though jumped around and sang the whole game regardless of what was going on, and they welcomed their team over at the end, proper fans backing their team through thick and thin.
The Stade Joseph Marien is a fantastic old ground, it really is, holds around 8,000, and is a far cry from a modern stadium, but it has so much character and the home fans in the huge terrace create a good atmosphere for sure, another enjoyable night and experience had.
Full time Union St Gilloise 5 Lommel SK 0
So, what does those games and the other ones that took place in the Pro League this weekend do to that table after six rounds of competition, let's have a look.....
Anderlechts win sees them seventh, Mechelen are now third from bottom and still without a win, Beveren are in eighth and climbed above STVV who drop down to tenth, Union climb to the summit of the division after their heavy win & Gent dropping points for the first time, & Lommel are down in 12th with their goal difference taking quite a turn for the worse after that defeat.
Just one game remained then for the trip, and on Sunday afternoon it was over to the Schiervelde Stadion for a third tier contest, let's see what happened there.....
SK Roeselare Vs RFC Mandel United (Schiervelde Stadion)
This was my first taste of third tier football in Belgium, and it came from the First Division Voetbal Vlaanderen, which is one of two regional First Divisions in the country, this one being in the Flanders region, and it brought together two sides who had began the season well, both picking up four points from their opening two games so far.
Roeselare is about 20km North West of Kortijk and on the way back towards France and the train back to the UK, hence this was a good one to do on the Sunday, and they were up against an RFC Mandel United side who come from a place called Izegem, which is only around 10km away from Roeselare, so a local derby to end the trip as well, and potentially a decent one going on how each had started their season.
It's a season that only got going two weekends ago, the last weekend in August, SK drew their first game at home to SV Belisia Youth before beating KVV Zelzate comfortably away, RFC won their opening game KRC Harelbeke comfortably before they drew last time out at home to K Lyra-Lierse, so both have had exactly the same results, 1-1 & 0-3, so had identical records after two games, so who knows what would happen in this one.
It looked promising early on for a good contest, the hosts taking the lead inside five minutes after an error from the visiting keeper, he was put under pressure and could only find a hosts player with his clearance, and after a decent touch he kept his composure to fire the ball beyond the diving keeper and into the net, but that was to be the only goal of the contest as it turned out.
It was a well contested game being a local derby, in front of a much bigger crowd than I expected their to be in a fantastic stadium it has to be said, the ground is also used by Club Brugge 2nd XI, known as Club NXT, and the Roeselare support created a very good atmosphere in this one too, again much better than I had anticipated.
The game though got worse as it went on if truth be told, the visitors thought they had levelled it up late on, only to see the flag go up for offside after the ball had found the bottom corner, leaving them frustrated, almost as frustrated as one of the hosts coaching staff who was booked and then immediately sent off by the referee for carrying on his complaints, although he and his staff would be the happy ones at the end as they held out for a narrow win.
Not the best quality game then, but a good battle nonetheless, and in a very decent arena indeed.
Full time SK Roeselare 1 RFC Mandel United 0
Here is the latest table following that result.....
That win for Roeselare sees them second and only two points off the lead, and they go above their opponents today who dropped to sixth after a first defeat of the season.
Before I end this blog, I spent two nights in Mechelen which was the base for this weekend, it's a lovely city with a nice main square (photos below) and had many fine bars and restaurants to go and visit, Het Anker Brewery is a must to go and visit, they brew some of the best beer I've ever had, and also Beer Central in the centre has lovely food and beer too, it's worth a visit for sure!!!
And, before leaving the City on Sunday morning, I paid a visit to the Oscar Vankesbeeck Stadion, home of fourth tier side Racing Mechelen, and boy is it a fantastic ground, I really need to come back here and watch them play, a proper football ground this, here are some snaps I took.....
And that ladies and gentleman ends my latest Belgian adventure, it was another great experience spent with super company, cannot wait till the next one, which is planned for December, bring it on!!!
