Royal Antwerp 2–0 KVC Westerlo: Antwerp Move Second After Dominant Victory

Match Overview

Royal Antwerp boosted their title credentials with a convincing 2–0 win over KVC Westerlo at the Bosuilstadion on 24 May 2026. The victory lifted The Great Old into second place in the Belgian Pro League standings, just two points behind leaders Union Saint-Gilloise with five matches remaining.

First Half – Antwerp Control the Tempo

Antwerp started brightly, pressing Westerlo high and forcing early errors. The opening goal came in the 17th minute when Michel-Ange Balikwisha collected a pass from Arthur Vermeeren on the edge of the box, cut inside onto his right foot, and curled a beautiful shot into the top corner. Westerlo’s best chance fell to Lyle Foster, but his header from a corner was brilliantly saved by Jean Butez.

Second Half – Antwerp Double the Lead

Westerlo attempted to mount a fightback after the interval, pushing more men forward. However, Antwerp remained dangerous on the break. In the 73rd minute, substitute Gyrano Kerk seized on a defensive miscommunication, rounded the goalkeeper, and slotted into an empty net to make it 2–0. Westerlo’s Bryan Reynolds was sent off in the 88th minute for a second yellow card, compounding a disappointing evening for the visitors.

Tactical Analysis

• Royal Antwerp – Pressed aggressively, winning the ball back 14 times in the final third. Dominated central midfield through Vermeeren and Alhassan Yusuf.
• Westerlo – Struggled to build from the back. Only managed 3 shots on target overall and were caught out by Antwerp’s transitions.

Standout Performers

• Michel-Ange Balikwisha (Antwerp) – Scored a stunning opener and caused problems all evening with his dribbling.
• Arthur Vermeeren (Antwerp) – An assured display in midfield; completed 87% of passes and provided the assist.
• Jean Butez (Antwerp) – Made crucial saves to preserve his clean sheet, including a key stop early in the second half.

Impact on the Standings

Antwerp climb to 2nd place, firmly in the Championship Play-Off race with 58 points. Westerlo drop to 12th, eight points clear of the relegation zone, but their playoff hopes are fading. The win also extended Antwerp’s unbeaten home run to 11 matches.

Antwerp face a top-four clash against Club Brugge next weekend; Westerlo host OH Leuven in a match that could define their season.