Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Radja Nainggolan scored a stoppage-time free kick as Patro Eisden came from 3-0 down to draw 3-3 with Rochefort in a pre-season friendly at the Parc des Roches.
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow it unfolded
Rochefort started brightly and took a deserved lead in the 21st minute through Billy Bokoto, the 20-year-old new signing who spent last season at Aywaille. The home side went into the break 1-0 up despite Patro Eisden having the better of the early exchanges through the lively Rais.
With the temperature soaring, Rochefort doubled their advantage in the 58th minute when Kibour found the net. Things got even better for the hosts just four minutes later — Cornet pounced on a loose pass from Nainggolan, who had entered the fray as a second-half substitute, and made it 3-0 in the 66th minute.
Trailing by three, Patro Eisden finally sparked into life. Penin pulled one back in the 68th minute (3-1), and substitute Lefrancq made it 3-2 in the 84th to set up a tense finale.
Deep into stoppage time, Nainggolan made amends for his earlier error. Standing over a free kick just outside the box, the Belgian former international curled a magnificent shot past Rochefort substitute goalkeeper Tom Roufosse — who had replaced Guillaume Hubert at half-time — to level the scores at 3-3 in the fourth minute of added time.
The turning point
Nainggolan's misplaced pass that gifted Cornet Rochefort's third goal appeared to have sealed the result. Instead, it triggered a furious Patro response. The ex-Diable Rouge's redemption arc — losing the ball for 3-0, then scoring the equaliser from a dead-ball situation — told the story of a game that swung wildly inside the final half-hour.
Key performers
- Radja Nainggolan (Patro Eisden): Started on the bench and sat in the stands early on, but made the decisive contribution with a stunning stoppage-time free kick. A mixed performance — his loose pass gifted Rochefort their third goal — but his quality from set pieces proved decisive.
- Billy Bokoto (Rochefort): The 20-year-old summer arrival opened the scoring with a composed finish, showing the promise that brought him 15 goals at Aywaille last season.
- Cornet (Rochefort): Alert to intercept Nainggolan's pass and make it 3-0 at a point when the game seemed safe.
By the numbers
Rochefort's 3-0 lead after 66 minutes reflected a clinical first hour against a Patro side that had won their opening pre-season friendly 2-1 at Schoonbeek-Bilzen six days earlier. The hosts generated their chances efficiently while Patro dominated possession. The xG story likely flipped dramatically in the final 22 minutes as Patro registered three goals from their last four shots on target. Nainggolan's free kick was the only shot on target Patro had between the 68th and 90th minutes before the grand finale.
What it means
The draw represents a respectable result for Rochefort, who compete in Belgian Division 1 FFA (amateur fourth tier). Their next pre-season fixture is a step up in class: away at RAAL La Louvière (D1A) on Saturday 4 July. Patro Eisden, preparing for the 2026-27 Challenger Pro League season under head coach Stijn Stijnen, have now drawn one and won one in pre-season.
Verdict
A pre-season friendly that had everything — three-goal lead, dramatic comeback, and a world-class free kick from a former Serie A star. Rochefort will rue the 20-minute spell when they switched off, but can take real heart from matching a professional side for 70 minutes. Patro's fighting spirit under Stijnen is already showing, even if their defensive organisation needs work before the season proper.
Match Events
Key match events between Rochefort and Patro Eisden — 6 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Rivalry since 2023
Rochefort vs Patro Eisden Head to Head Results· 1
Rochefort and Patro Eisden have met 1 times — Rochefort won 0, Patro Eisden won 1, with 0 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2023. Patro Eisden leads the head-to-head with 1 victory from 1 meeting. A combined 2 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 2.00 per match (0 for the home side, 2 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 0 matches (0%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 0 games (0%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 0–2 in 2023.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 29 Jun 2026