Leuven, Belgium - On December 27, 2024, OH Leuven secured a much-needed victory over Beerschot, defeating them 2-0 at the King Power at Den Dreef Stadium. The match was significant for both teams, with OH Leuven seeking points to distance themselves from the relegation zone and Beerschot aiming to claw their way out of the last place in the standings.
The first half ended scoreless, but it was evident early on which way the momentum would sway. Both teams displayed moments of brilliance, but it was clear OH Leuven created the more significant threats. Beerschot's goalkeeper, Shinton, was kept busy as he thwarted several attempts on goal. Notably, he made impressive saves against long-range shots and close attempts, keeping his team afloat during the opening 45 minutes when they could have easily gone down by several goals.
Despite this, Beerschot did manage some promising chances, particularly through Reyners and Colassin, whose efforts were thwarted by Leuven's goalkeeper, Leysen. The score remained locked at 0-0, much to the frustration of both teams. It seemed both sides were afraid to make the mistakes necessary to break the deadlock.
When the second half started, OH Leuven emerged with renewed vigor. They pressed high, seeking the first goal and putting pressure on Beerschot’s back line. The persistent pressure from the home side bore fruit at the 76th minute when Ikwuemesi finally broke the deadlock. He displayed excellent positioning and technical skill, creating space for himself before slotting the ball past Shinton and sending the home crowd wild.
Not long after, with Beerschot committed to attacking and trying to equalize, Ikwuemesi struck again. A defensive blunder from Beerschot allowed him to collect the ball, and knowing he had the crowd chanting for more, he lobbed the goalkeeper with finesse, making the score 2-0.
This goal confirmed the victory for OHL, who celebrated their offensive resurgence. "OH Leuven is the strongest at home against Beerschot, winning 2-0 thanks to two goals from Ikwuemesi. The home team threatened multiple times, and Beerschot struggled offensively throughout the match," reported Davy Bequoye after the game.
On the other hand, Beerschot’s coach Dirk Kuyt has serious concerns as his team failed to create much danger after the first half. Despite being able to resist during the first hour, they crumbled under pressure, which has been indicative of their struggles throughout the season. "Shinton kept Beerschot alive for a long time, but finally, OHL broke through with Ikwuemesi’s goals," said Bequoye.
After the match, OHL fans left with hopes renewed, happy with their team's performance, which lifted them to 10th place with 25 points. Meanwhile, Beerschot remained stuck at the bottom of the table with only 12 points, signaling they would have to change their strategy significantly as they approached the new year. "A painful loss for Beerschot, which now remains last and will need to change its approach post-New Year," pointed out Bequoye.
Both teams now face different trajectories heading Into 2025, with OH Leuven demonstrating they have the potential to throttle their opponents, and Beerschot needing to regroup swiftly to salvage their season and avoid relegation.
