Westerlo Women opened their account in the Belgian Women’s First Division with a gritty 2-1 home victory over Herk Sport Hasselt on a night that demanded patience, discipline, and a cutting edge in the final third.

The hosts controlled long spells of a contest that kicked off at 02:30 local time and eventually found the goals needed to secure all three points. While the scoreline remained tight until the end, Westerlo’s overall attacking intent and structure made them deserving winners against a stubborn Herk Sport Hasselt side.

Match overview

From the first whistle, Westerlo Women looked to impose themselves, moving the ball quickly across the midfield and pushing their full-backs high. Herk Sport Hasselt, meanwhile, set out in a compact shape designed to frustrate the hosts and threaten on the counter. That tactical battle shaped an opening half that had only one breakthrough before Westerlo doubled their lead early after the restart.

Herk responded well to going two goals down and managed to pull one back, setting up a tense finale in which Westerlo had to defend resolutely. In the end, home goalkeeper and back line held firm to preserve a hard-earned victory.

Key moments

• First-half opener: Westerlo broke the deadlock with a well-worked move, finishing calmly from inside the area after sustained pressure.
• Second goal after the break: A swift transition caught Herk Sport Hasselt off guard, and Westerlo doubled their advantage with a clinical strike.
• Herk’s response: The visitors pulled one back with a goal from a set-piece situation, giving them hope of a late equaliser.
• Defensive stand: Westerlo Women weathered the late storm and saw out the remaining minutes to confirm the 2-1 scoreline.

Why the result matters

Victory at home gives Westerlo Women early momentum and a valuable confidence boost in the Belgian Women’s First Division standings. For Herk Sport Hasselt, the loss will feel harsh given their competitive second-half display, but they can take positives from their willingness to fight until the final whistle. This kind of result often proves important when the league table starts to take shape later in the season.

Westerlo Women will now aim to carry this form into their next fixture, while Herk Sport Hasselt will look to tighten up defensively and turn performances into points.