Westerlo and Beveren played out a dramatic 4-4 draw on Saturday, October 24, 2026, during the ninth round of the Jupiler Pro League at Het Kuipje, featuring eight goals, two penalties, a red card, and play extending to the 102nd minute.
Early Trading of Blows at Het Kuipje
The hosts needed only ten minutes to break the deadlock on their first real attempt at goal. Isa Sakamoto provided a neat deflection that allowed Shunsuke Saito to carve out a shooting angle, firing past Beveren goalkeeper Johannes Schenk to make it 1-0 in the 10th minute. Beveren steadily grew into the match and equalized just past the half-hour mark. Jearl Margaritha delivered a dangerous ball across the penalty area, allowing Elohim Kaboré to rush in at the far post and turn it home in the 33rd minute for 1-1. Just before the interval, Westerlo reclaimed the advantage. A defensive clearance fell invitingly to Norman Bassette, and the forward struck a precise volley past the Beveren defense in first-half stoppage time (45+1′) to put the Campine side 2-1 ahead.
Bassette Extends the Lead Before Beveren Strikes Back
Westerlo seized control shortly after the restart when refereeing action intervened. Arno Verschueren fouled Dylan Ourega inside the penalty box, prompting the referee to point to the spot in the 55th minute. Bassette stepped up and drilled his penalty straight down the middle for his second goal of the night. With that conversion, Bassette claimed the status of top scorer in the Belgian championship, establishing a 3-1 cushion for the hosts. Beveren refused to fold, however. Tim Bakens introduced tactical changes from the bench, and Chris Lokesa rewarded his manager’s faith by cutting the deficit. Lokesa latched onto a pass from Verschueren and beat Westerlo goalkeeper Andreas Jungdal at his near post in the 67th minute, narrowing the scoreline to 3-2.
Olatunji Equalizes Before Saito Scores Late Penalty
The closing stages descended into total chaos as the match ticked past regulation time. With regular time expiring in the 88th minute, Jungdal misjudged a high aerial ball into his six-yard box, leaving Victor Olatunji an open invitation to bundle it over the line for 3-3. Issame Charaï attempted to steady Westerlo by making four simultaneous substitutions, yet the drama escalated further into the extended periods. Refereeing decisions once again shaped the outcome when a foul by Jans on Yang Min-hyeok conceded a second penalty to the hosts. Saito took the responsibility in the 97th minute (90+7′), converting from the spot to restore Westerlo’s lead at 4-3 and seemingly secure a fifth victory. Tempers flared immediately afterward, sparking a pitchside melee that resulted in a red card for Westerlo substitute Reda Laalaoui, reducing the hosts to ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage and an initial announcement of seven minutes of stoppage time, Beveren kept pressing. Deep into the extended added time—ultimately reaching the 102nd minute—Olatunji struck again. The forward met a cross with a decisive header past Jungdal to snatch a 4-4 draw at the death (90+12′).
Standings Implications After the Eight-Goal Thriller
The extraordinary draw leaves Westerlo sitting provisionally in sixth place in the Jupiler Pro League table with 14 points from nine matches, missing out on a golden chance to stretch their winning run. Beveren sits in 12th position with 10 points, securing their first away point of the campaign in unforgettable fashion.
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