Red card swings match as Westerlo surge past Antwerp

On 11 October 2026 at Het Kuipje, Westerlo overturned a 1‑0 deficit against Antwerp after a VAR‑confirmed red card sent Mauricio Benítez off in the 51st minute, sparking a five‑goal onslaught that secured a 5‑1 victory. The decisive dismissal shifted momentum dramatically, leaving Antwerp reduced to ten men.

Red card changes the balance

Mauricio Benítez, the Antwerp midfielder, received a straight red after a clumsy tackle on a Westerlo attacker was reviewed by VAR. The referee upgraded an initial yellow to a red, forcing the Belgian side to continue with ten players for the remainder of the game.

Antwerp entered the match on the back of four consecutive defeats, yet they started brightly, creating several chances and forcing Westerlo onto the defensive. Early attempts from Michael Frey, Somers and Ibrahim Salah tested the home side, but the visitors failed to convert.

Westerlo's goal flood and Antwerp's collapse

The visitors opened the scoring when Ibrahim Salah slotted home in the 22nd minute, putting Antwerp ahead. Westerlo equalised through Cisse Sandra in added time of the first half, and after the red card they surged ahead with Norman Bassette (60'), Emmanuel Tsimba (72'), Lasse Flö (88') and a late strike by Yang Min‑hyeok in stoppage time.

Antwerp's collapse after Benítez red card fuels Westerlo surge

Before the dismissal, Thomas Van den Keybus was shown a Geel card in the 26th minute, while Isa Sakamoto also received a Geel in the 57th. Further cautions fell to Christopher Scott, Snayder Porozo and Álvaro Cortés later in the match, underscoring the heated nature of the encounter.

The game saw several changes: Michael Frey was withdrawn for Snayder Porozo just before Norman Bassette’s 60th‑minute strike, while Xander Dierckx made way for Christopher Scott at the hour mark. Later, Daam Foulon was replaced by Yuto Tsunashima as the match progressed.

Implications for the Jupiler Pro League

The 5‑1 win marked Westerlo’s fourth successive triumph, lifting them to sixth place with a perfect 12 on 12 record. By contrast, Antwerp’s form has nosedived from an early six‑on‑six start to a solitary point from eighteen matches.

The fixture formed part of the Jupiler Pro League Programma that sits alongside Voetbal, Tennis and Formule coverage, and it also featured in the Challenger tier discussions, feeding into the Champions, Europa and Conference competitions. Meer football news highlighted the impact of the red card and the shifting fortunes of both clubs.