The Standard de Liège faced off against Beerschot V Anvers on December 14, 2024, settling for a 0-0 draw at the Kiel stadium. This result, disappointing for both sides, leaves Standard still residing outside the top six of the Jupiler Pro League standings, currently ranked eighth.
The match couldn’t be described as the most thrilling spectacle. Despite numerous opportunities from Beerschot, it was Matthieu Epolo, the young goalkeeper for Standard, who stood out as the hero. Epolo, who has faced criticism earlier this season, rose to the occasion, keeping his team's hopes alive with several remarkable saves. His first significant intervention came just eight minutes after kickoff when he blocked Keita's shot, who found himself one-on-one with the keeper.
While the Beerschot side came out aggressively, piling on the pressure, it became apparent early on they were eager to capitalize on Standard’s frailties. By the 20th minute, they had already threatened Epolo multiple times, signaling possible trouble for the visitors. Each time, the 19-year-old goalkeeper stood firm, thwarting their attempts, including solid stops against Dagba and Verlinden.
This match proved quite challenging for the Standard players, particularly due to the turf conditions. It didn’t seem to favor either team's attacking strategies, which have been historically weak. The first-half statistics overall showed Beerschot firmly dominating possession. Standard struggled to create meaningful chances until the closing stages of the first half.
Just minutes before the halftime whistle, Standard created their best opportunity of the half when Eckert's shot was cleared off the line by Shinton after Soh had initially repelled it. The lack of clinical finishing haunted Standard as they approached the break without managing to alter the scoreboard.
After the interval, the balance of the match seemed to shift slightly. Standard pushed for more control, and some early initiatives bore fruit when they applied pressure inside the Beerschot area, albeit without creating clear chances. Kuavita and Zeqiri emerged as key figures on the frontlines, trying to break through Beerschot's wall of defense.
Despite appearing more assertive offensively during segments of the second half, Standard was repeatedly stymied by Beerschot's resolute defense and the excellent form of Shinton, their goalkeeper. The two sides exchanged possession without making significant breakthroughs toward either goal. The final minutes saw Beerschot ramp up their pursuit of victory without achieving the decisive touch.
Post-match, Epolo reflected on his performance, stating, "Le coach m'avait mis sur le banc depuis un moment, mais tout le monde est resté derrière moi. Cela me fait plaisir.” His resilience was clear, and the support from the fans proved invaluable. He added, "C'était un match difficile, sur un terrain difficile. Nous avons dû tout donner. Nous aurions pu gagner, mais nous aurions aussi pu perdre. Au final, c'est bien de rentrer à la maison avec un point." His sentiment accurately captures both the struggles and the slight relief from not suffering another loss.
With this draw, both teams saw their respective journeys continue down troubling paths; Beerschot remained entrenched at the bottom of the league table with 11 points, desperately hoping to claw their way out of relegation trouble. Meanwhile, Standard’s four-game winless streak persists, leaving the team and their supporters frustrated as they search for form. The pressure is on Ivan Leko's side to rediscover their winning mentality if they wish to re-establish their claim for a top six finish soon.
