Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
SK Beveren hammered local rivals KSK Beveren 8-1 in a pre-season friendly at the Freethielzone, with Diouf (2), Salii (2), Mertens, Frattaruolo, Abrahams and Lokesa all on target.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
SK Beveren needed only eight minutes to open the scoring. De Schryver's initial effort was parried, but Lennart Mertens reacted quickest to stab in the rebound from close range (0-1).
KSK Beveren — reformed fan-owned club playing in Belgium's first provincial division — hit back against the run of play on 28 minutes. A loose ball fell to Van De Velde, who controlled and finished calmly to make it 1-1.
Parity lasted just three minutes. J. Diouf restored SK Beveren's lead in the 31st minute, beating the KSK goalkeeper at the second attempt. The same player made it 1-3 before half-time, controlling the ball on his chest and tucking home neatly (42').
Second-half avalanche
Tim Bakens, SK Beveren's new head coach, rang the changes at the break, replacing nine of the 11 outfield players. Only Rigo and Westerlinck remained on the pitch.
The substitutes made an immediate impact. After Lokesa had gone close, a slick move down the right between Mawete and Kurt Abrahams ended with Frattaruolo scoring from close range (1-4, 55'). Two minutes later, a quick one-two between Godeau and Lokesa released Salii, who made no mistake (1-5, 57').
Abrahams added the sixth with a simple tap-in after good work from Slegers (1-6, 72'). Salii grabbed his second of the afternoon on 80 minutes, running onto a through ball from Slegers and finishing coolly (1-7). Chris Lokesa completed the scoring in the 88th minute with a well-taken penalty (1-8).
The turning point
KSK Beveren had briefly threatened an upset when Van De Velde equalised just past the half-hour mark. But Diouf's immediate response — regaining the lead within three minutes — deflated the hosts. By half-time SK Beveren led 3-1, and Bakens' wholesale changes after the break turned the friendly into a rout. The second-half XI, featuring forward Abrahams and winger Salii, added five goals without reply.
Key performers
J. Diouf — The forward scored twice in the first half (31', 42') and was a constant menace before being substituted at half-time. His first was a poacher's finish, his second a moment of composure.
Salii — Introduced after the break, the winger scored twice (57', 80') and stretched the KSK defence with his direct running.
Kurt Abrahams — The South African forward registered a goal (72') and an assist, linking well with Mawete down the right flank.
Lennart Mertens — Opened the scoring with a sharp rebound finish and led the press effectively in the first half.
Player of the match: J. Diouf — his two first-half goals killed the contest before the hosts could build on their equaliser.
By the numbers — interpreted
SK Beveren's eight goals from an estimated 20+ attempts reflects clinical finishing rather than total territorial dominance in the first half. The 1-3 half-time scoreline flattered KSK slightly, as the professional side had created four clear chances to their two. The second half was entirely one-way: five goals, all from SKB players who entered at the break. KSK Beveren, by contrast, did not register a single shot on target after half-time as Bakens' reshuffled side controlled possession. Pre-season fitness levels inevitably played a factor — SK Beveren, preparing for the Jupiler Pro League season starting 9 August, are several weeks ahead of first-provincial KSK in their conditioning.
What it means
This was SK Beveren's second pre-season friendly (following a midweek fixture against PAOK Saloniki) ahead of their Jupiler Pro League return on 9 August against Royal Antwerp FC. For new coach Tim Bakens, it offered a chance to see both his first-choice XI and his second-string squad in match conditions.
For KSK Beveren, this was the first outing under new player-manager Raphael Holzhauser — the former Beerschot star signed as player-coach in May 2026. The 33-year-old Austrian, who played top-flight football in Belgium, Germany and Switzerland, will have seen plenty to work on defensively. KSK Beveren play in Belgium's first provincial tier (fourth division) and this friendly was always a significant step up in class.
Next up: SK Beveren face another pre-season test before their league opener, while KSK Beveren continue preparations for the provincial league campaign.
Sources
- SK Beveren official match report: "SKB vindt tegen KSK acht keer de weg naar doel" (skbeveren.be, 4 July 2026)
- SK Beveren on X (Twitter): "FT KSK vs SKB: 1-8" (4 July 2026)
- Betmana provider payload (API-Sports, fixture 1560514)
- HBVL: "Nieuwe trainer Tim Bakens ziet SK Beveren overtuigend winnen bij buur KSK Beveren" (4 July 2026)
- KSK Beveren official website: Holzhauser appointment announcement (27 May 2026)
Verdict
A predictably one-sided derby that served its pre-season purpose. SK Beveren's superior fitness and squad depth told from the moment Diouf restored the lead. For KSK, the scoreline is the least important detail — getting minutes into legs under Holzhauser's new regime was the priority.
Match Events
Key match events between KSK Beveren and SK Beveren — 9 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2024
KSK Beveren vs SK Beveren Head to Head Results· 1
KSK Beveren and SK Beveren have met 1 times — KSK Beveren won 0, SK Beveren won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2024. SK Beveren leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 6 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 6.00 per match (0 for the home side, 6 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 1 game (100%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–6 in 2024.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 5 Jul 2026