A midweek matchday marked the first home game for our Kemphanen in the new year. They played host to Cercle Brugge, a team that earned a considerable number of points before the year-end with its unconventional playing style, remaining unbeaten in 2024 with two draws. It was up to our Kemphanen to crack the code of the West Flemish team.

KVC Westerlo Lineup: S. Bolat, N. Madsen (74′ D. Haspolat), S. Sydorchuk, R. Vermant (61′ M. Frigan), G. Yow (74′ E. Jordanov), B. Reynolds, T. Rommens, R. Neustädter (46′ M. Fixelles), T. Van Den Keybus (86′ N. Chadli), E. Bayram, A. Piedfort

First Half

Kempenground, a ground for spectacle. The first meeting at ’t Kuipje in the new year turned out to be one to remember. A lively Griffin Yow opened the goal fest after seven minutes, cleverly positioning himself for a cross from the advancing Rommens.

Not long after, the same Yow doubled the score, first smoothly evading two defenders and then reacting fastest to a deflected cross from Reynolds.

Time to add another name to the scoreboard, Madsen must have thought. After a beautifully crafted team attack, our top scorer confidently slotted in the 3-0.

No three without four, Vermant must have thought again. After scoring his first goal in yellow and blue at Gent, the young striker opened his goal account at ’t Kuipje.

A local celebration unfolded in the stands, briefly interrupted only by an unfortunate own goal from Sydorchuk. A footnote to an otherwise dazzling first half for our Westel boys.

Second Half

The second half didn’t see the same explosive start. The visitors came out aggressively from the dressing rooms but couldn’t convert their robust play into goal-scoring opportunities. On the contrary, it was even Van Den Keybus who created the first real danger. A brilliant save from Warleson prevented a larger embarrassment for De Vereniging.

Not long after an unfortunate red card for Rommens, fellow goalkeeper Bolat also distinguished himself with an excellent save on a header from Daland. However, the visitors couldn’t muster a real counteroffensive. The closing 4-2 late in the game was nothing more than an additional note on a very nice match sheet that earned our Kemphanen a well-deserved three points.

Report: Glen Van Herck
Photos: Peter De Voecht/Photo News