Zulte-Waregem 2–1 Dender | Pro League | 09 May 2026

Result Summary

Zulte-Waregem secured a hard-fought 2–1 home victory over Dender in a feisty Pro League encounter at the Elindus Arena. The match was largely decided in a chaotic first-half finale, with goals arriving in the 41st minute and deep into first-half stoppage time. Despite Dender generating the greater volume of dangerous attacks across the ninety minutes, Steve Colpaert's side held firm to claim three valuable points.

Match Analysis

Zulte-Waregem controlled the early exchanges, holding 53% of possession and completing passes at a 75% success rate compared to Dender's 70%. The hosts were considerably more aggressive in front of goal, registering 19 total shots to Dender's 10, and earning a dominant 9 corners to their opponents' 2.

The opening goal came on 41 minutes when Marley Ake converted with a left-foot shot, finishing off an assist from Jelle Vossen to break the deadlock. It was a well-constructed move that rewarded Zulte-Waregem's persistent pressure in the final third, backed by 6 key passes in the match.

However, the hosts' lead lasted barely minutes into stoppage time. At 45+2', a moment of misfortune for Dender saw Bryan Goncalves divert the ball into his own net, handing Zulte-Waregem a 2–0 advantage heading into the break. The VAR system was also consulted regarding Goncalves at 45+4', though no reversal of the own goal occurred.

Dender's discipline was a significant problem throughout, collecting five yellow cards — Luc De Fougerolles (45'), Luc Marijnissen (49'), Krzysztof Koton (52'), Roman Květ (29'), and Desmond Acquah (84') — all for fouls, and accumulating 12 fouls in total. This persistent indiscipline disrupted their own rhythm and invited pressure from the hosts. Their triple substitution at the 60th minute, introducing David Toshevski, Amine Daali, Victor Elnora Lembi N'Zelo, and Nail Moutha-Sebtaoui, represented a clear tactical reset from coach Ahmed Abdul Raouf.

Despite trailing, Dender did show attacking intent in the second half, generating 28 dangerous attacks compared to Zulte-Waregem's 22. The visitors eventually pulled a goal back — reducing the deficit to 2–1 — but were ultimately unable to find an equaliser despite the pressure in the closing stages.

Zulte-Waregem's substitutions helped manage the game effectively. Jakob Kiilerich and Enrique Lofolomo came on at half-time, while Stavros Gavriel replaced the influential Jelle Vossen at 66 minutes after the veteran had contributed his assist.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a Zulte-Waregem win at 2–1, and that is precisely how the game unfolded — an exact score prediction. With a confidence rating of 58/100, this was not a high-certainty call, but the model correctly identified the home side's advantage, assigning them a 53% win probability. The statistical profile of the match — home possession advantage, significantly higher shot volume, and Dender's disciplinary issues — aligned well with the forecast logic.

Key Takeaways

• Marley Ake's clinical left-foot finish and Jelle Vossen's assist proved decisive in the build-up to the win.
• Bryan Goncalves' own goal was a cruel blow for Dender and ultimately the turning point of the match.
• Dender's five yellow cards and 12 fouls undermined any prospects of a comeback.
• Zulte-Waregem's **19 shots and