Beerschot's struggle for survival continues as they played to a goalless draw against FCV Dender, who also faced challenges of their own on Saturday. Despite playing against ten men for over half the match, Beerschot was unable to capitalize and secure their first away win of the season.
The match, held at the Dender Football Complex, began with the home side taking control early on. Within just three minutes, Dender striker Aurélien Scheidler tested Beerschot goalkeeper Shinton with a fierce strike, which he managed to parry. This frantic opening highlighted Dender's intent to attack as they pressed Beerschot, who appeared somewhat vulnerable.
Beerschot, facing defensive woes, brought debutant Djevencio Van Der Kust to replace the ill Dagba. The tactical shift saw Beerschot starting to warm up offensively, but with little improvement until Mo Berte netted what could have been the opening goal. Unfortunately for Dender, VAR ruled the goal out for offside, keeping the scoreline at nil.
Despite the setback, Dender continued to show promise. Shidton's reflexes were tested again by Berte, who threatened with another shot only to see it thwarted again. The breakthrough seemed within reach when Kvet, already cautioned for simulation, saw red after another foul, significantly hampering Dender’s efforts just before half-time.
The second half saw Beerschot gain the advantage but fail to exploit it effectively. They struggled to manufacture clear-cut chances, exhibiting frustrating ineptitude even with the numeric advantage. Struggling to penetrate Dender's disciplined defense, Beerschot's attempts came primarily from long-range efforts, one coming from Colassin which went soaring over the bar. At this point, the match began to stagnate.
Dender’s coach, Vincent Euvrard, switched focus to defensive strategies after losing Kvet. His team relied on counterattacks but found themselves pinned back by Beerschot's possession game. With both sides failing to create opportunities, the momentum waned as nervous relegation fears crept back to surround both benches.
Even with tactical adjustments including substituting swift-paced Al-Sahafi, Beerschot seemed to struggle to break through the layered Dender defense. Despite Kuyt throwing all available resources to salvage three points, the ambitions fizzled out as full-time approached.
Beerschot's inability to secure even one goal against ten men was disheartening as both teams now have to regroup and prepare for upcoming matches. With the prospects of relegation looming large, each missed opportunity adds pressure to their already burdened spirits. For Beerschot, their hunt for survival becomes even more desperate.
Finally, the match concluded without any resolution to either team’s plight, leaving them still hovering around the relegation zone. For both Beerschot and Dender, improvement is not just preferred; it is necessary for survival.