Antwerp's collapse after Benítez red card fuels Westerlo surge

In the packed stand at the Bosuilstadion, the atmosphere shifted in the 48th minute when Mauricio Benítez was shown a red card. The Belgian side Antwerp, coached by Stijn Compper, soon found themselves trailing heavily against Westerlo, a result that left fans stunned.

Red card triggers collapse

Benítez, a South‑American midfielder, attempted a reckless tackle on a Westerlo player, extending his right leg and striking the opponent on the ground. VAR intervened, and the referee issued a straight red card. The dismissal proved the turning point, as Antwerp’s organised defence unraveled.

“Dit gaat meer over mentaliteit dan kwaliteit,” said Compper after the match, reflecting on the team’s inability to recover. The coach added that the red card forced the squad to give “tien procent meer” but they failed to do so.

Westerlo’s relentless response

Westerlo capitalised on the numerical advantage, scoring five goals in the second half. The first came from Ibrahim Salah before the break, but the floodgates opened after the dismissal. A late strike by Yang in the 90+7th minute sealed the defeat.

Red card swings match as Westerlo surge past Antwerp

One Westerlo player, after shaking hands with the Antwerp side in the tunnel, remarked, “Wat die Benítez deed, heb ik zelden gezien in België. Zó dom.” The comment underscored the perceived recklessness of the tackle.

Antwerp’s defensive record has been poor this season, conceding twenty goals in eight matches, the worst in the Belgian First Division A. CEO Sven Jaecques had previously warned that a loss to Westerlo “wel eens mocht gaan gebeuren”, yet the margin proved harsher than expected.

Compper, described as a “young, promising coach”, faced mounting pressure after the defeat. He defended his midfielders, arguing that the referee’s decision to issue a yellow card would have been sufficient, and that the VAR intervention was unnecessary.

“We must not forget we are developing a young squad,” Compper insisted, urging the team to look in and take responsibility. He highlighted upcoming fixtures, including a cup tie against Heist and a league clash with Charleroi, as crucial opportunities to restore confidence.