ANTWERP, Belgium (Interstat) — Thibaud Verlinden delivered a goal and an assist to power Beerschot to a 3-1 victory over Lierse K on Saturday in a First Division B match at Olympisch Stadion.

The home side controlled the match from the outset, building a commanding lead before halftime and never looking back. The win gives Beerschot a perfect start to its league campaign, moving to one win and no losses. Lierse K drops to no wins and one loss in the Belgian second-tier competition.

Beerschot’s attack was relentless in the first half. The breakthrough came in the 19th minute when midfielder Pouya Pourali found the net. The lead doubled just 16 minutes later as forward Pouria Latififar scored his first of the match. Just before the halftime whistle, defender Igor Sergeyev added a third goal in the seventh minute of stoppage time, sending the teams into the break with Beerschot holding a 3-0 advantage.

Lierse K showed more fight after the interval and pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute. Forward Eric Ocansey, a second-half substitute, finished a chance created by midfielder Stan Van Dessel, cutting the deficit to 3-1.

Any momentum for the visitors was quickly extinguished. Just nine minutes later, Beerschot restored its three-goal cushion. Verlinden, the match’s standout performer, turned provider, setting up a goal for a teammate in the 62nd minute. The attacker from Brugge then capped his influential performance by scoring himself in the 70th minute, securing the 5-1 final scoreline.

The match was a physical affair, with two yellow cards issued. Beerschot’s Mardochée Nzita Theto was booked in the 52nd minute, and Lierse K’s Aristote Nkaka Bazunga received a caution in the third minute of second-half stoppage time.

Verlinden’s complete performance, featuring a direct involvement in two of his team’s final three goals, earned him top star honors for Beerschot. For Lierse K, Ocansey provided a bright spot with his goal off the bench, while Van Dessel registered an assist.

The result extended Beerschot’s strong early-season form across all competitions, improving its overall record to two wins and no losses. Lierse K’s combined record now stands at one win and one loss.

The pregame projections from Interstat proved accurate in predicting a Beerschot victory, though the final margin exceeded expectations. The organization’s game simulator had forecast a 2-1 Beerschot win, while its ELO rating system gave the home side an 84.4 percent probability of securing the three points.

Beerschot will look to continue its winning ways when it hosts Patro Eisden in its next league match on Sunday, Feb. 22. Lierse K aims to rebound on the road against Zulte Waregem on Saturday, Feb. 21.