Jamie Roche scored the decisive goal in the 53rd minute, lifting the West-Vlamingen and easing the pressure following a turbulent start to the campaign.
A Dream Debut for Christophe Lepoint
The fixture marked a dramatic turning point for Kortrijk, who parted ways with Michiel Jonckheere and handed the reins to interim coach Christophe Lepoint. A former player for both competing clubs, Lepoint deployed a heavily restructured starting lineup that immediately shifted the team’s energy. Prior to Sunday’s kickoff, the club had dropped all six of their opening league matches and gone 370 minutes without finding the back of the net, according to Sporza.
Playing in front of 7,020 spectators at the Guldensporenstadion, Kortrijk caught a major break shortly before halftime. Despite holding a numerical advantage, the hosts failed to capitalize before the interval, squandering several opportunities through Ogbuehi and Shandre Campbell to leave the match scoreless at the break.
Jamie Roche Breaks the Deadlock
The breakthrough finally arrived eight minutes into the second half.
Match records show that Lepoint’s side lined up with Ilic in goal, backed by a defensive unit featuring Murray-Campbell, Ndjeungoue, Mehssatou, and Drouhin.
Standings Impact and Next Fixtures
Even with a man down, SK Beveren pushed for an equalizer in the closing stages, though they struggled to generate clear-cut scoring chances against Kortrijk’s disciplined defensive block. Kortrijk missed opportunities to double their lead through sloppy finishing, forcing the home supporters to endure a nervous finale before the final whistle confirmed the 1-0 scoreline, reported Sporza.
The victory moves Kortrijk level on points with KV Mechelen and Cercle Brugge in the Jupiler Pro League standings. Meanwhile, SK Beveren remains on nine points, continuing a dismal away form that has seen them lose all four of their matches on the road this season without earning a single point away from home, according to league tracking data.
