Westerlo 4–4 SK Beveren | Pro League | 24 October 2026

Result Summary

In one of the most dramatic encounters of the Pro League season, Westerlo and SK Beveren shared the spoils in a breathtaking 4–4 draw at the Kuipje. What appeared to be a comfortable home victory was dramatically dismantled in the closing stages, as Beveren mounted a stunning late comeback to snatch a point they barely seemed entitled to for large portions of the contest.

Match Analysis

Westerlo drew first blood in the 10th minute when Shunsuke Saito converted with a right-foot finish, assisted by Isa Sakamoto, setting an early tone of dominance for the hosts. Beveren levelled through Moise Elohim Kabore just before the half-hour mark, but Westerlo responded emphatically as Norman Bassette restored the lead deep into first-half stoppage time with a composed left-foot effort.

The second half began with Westerlo apparently in control, yet the statistics revealed a more balanced contest — both sides registering 12 shots each, with possession exactly split at 50% apiece. SK Beveren held the edge in attacking intent, generating 103 attacks to Westerlo's 92, and notably producing 15 key passes compared to just 7 from the home side, a figure that would prove significant.

The introduction of substitutes transformed Beveren's fortunes. Chris Lokesa, arriving from the bench at the 65th minute, immediately made his mark by pulling one back just two minutes later, assisted by Arno Verschueren. The game suddenly had a new complexion, and Beveren pressed for an equaliser with increasing urgency.

What followed in the dying minutes was extraordinary. Victor Olatunji, another substitute, delivered twice in the space of four minutes: first with a right-foot finish in the 88th minute, assisted by Laurent Jans, to level the scores, then completing the most dramatic of turnarounds with a header in the 90+12th minute — assisted again by Verschueren — to give Beveren a lead that ultimately ended in a share of the points. Westerlo, to their credit, had clearly secured an equaliser by that point to make the final score 4–4.

The closing minutes were also marred by ill-discipline. Beveren accumulated four yellow cards across the match, including bookings for Christian Brüls, Bruno Godeau, Victor Olatunji, and Christophe Janssens. The most serious disciplinary moment, however, came when Westerlo substitute Reda Laalaoui received a red card for violent conduct in the 90+9th minute, a moment that overshadowed what had been a remarkable finish.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast leaned toward a Westerlo home win (47% probability), with the final score projected at 2–1. That prediction proved incorrect. While the home-side advantage was apparent for most of the contest, we underestimated Beveren's attacking resilience and the decisive impact their substitutions would have. With confidence rated at just 52/100, the low-margin nature of the call reflected genuine uncertainty — but the sheer volume of goals and the late chaos were beyond the model's anticipation.

Key Takeaways

• Beveren's substitutes won them a point: Lokesa and Olatunji combined for three goals after coming off the bench, a masterclass in impactful substitution from coach Tim Bakens.
• Westerlo's defensive frailty in closing games will concern coach Issame Charai, particularly after holding what should have been a winning position.
• Olatunji's brace in the final minutes marks him as an immediate talking point, despite his yellow card.
• The red card for Laalaoui adds further complexity to Westerlo's preparations for their next fixture.