AYWAILLE, Belgium (Interstat) — Ganshoren capitalized on a pair of second-half goals from substitutes to secure a 2-0 victory over Royal Aywaille FC in a Belgian Division 2 match on Sunday.

The win at Stade de la Porallée, which defied pregame statistical projections, was fueled by the visitors’ bench, with Noah Eliko and Verlain Kibelo providing the decisive finishes.

The match was a defensive stalemate for much of the first half, with the only early threat materializing for the visitors in the 10th minute. A swift counter-attack, initiated by Mathis Laurent, found Eliko, who had just entered the fray. The substitute made an immediate impact, slotting his shot past the Royal Aywaille goalkeeper to give Ganshoren an early lead.

The first half was punctuated by physical play, resulting in yellow cards for Ganshoren’s Laurent in the 37th minute and for his teammate Alessio Schiavo just before halftime in the 47th.

Royal Aywaille, which had been projected as a slight favorite by Interstat’s ELO system with a 51 percent probability to win, struggled to break down a disciplined Ganshoren defense. The home side failed to convert any significant chances, leaving their attack dormant throughout the contest.

The game was ultimately put beyond doubt in the 83rd minute. Another substitute combination proved fruitful for Ganshoren as Imran Tariki and Ismaël Boubouh linked up to find Kibelo in space. Kibelo calmly finished to double the lead and seal the three points for the visiting side.

The closing minutes of the match grew increasingly fractious, with four yellow cards distributed between the 88th minute and stoppage time. Ganshoren’s Tariki and Adel Abbass were booked, along with Boubouh, while Royal Aywaille’s Noah Hartmann also received a caution in the flurry of late activity.

The result improves Ganshoren’s record in Division 2 to five wins, three losses and five draws, moving them into a more secure mid-table position. Across all competitions, they now stand at six wins, five losses and five draws. The victory provides a positive rebound after a scoreless draw with Stade Vervietois the previous weekend and a 1-0 loss to RUS Binche prior to that.

For Royal Aywaille, the defeat marks a setback after a promising 3-1 victory over RFC Union La Calamine in their last outing. Their Division 2 record now falls to four wins, eight losses and four draws, mirroring their overall record across all competitions. The team’s inconsistency was on full display, as they were unable to build on their offensive explosion from the previous matchday when they scored four goals against RFC Tournai.

Ganshoren will look to continue its momentum next Sunday when it hosts CS Pays Vert Ostiches-Ath. Royal Aywaille FC will attempt to get back on track on the same day, traveling to face Entente Acren Lessines.

The match unfolded contrary to the simulation from Interstat, which had projected a 2-1 victory for Ganshoren. The actual result, a clean-sheet victory for the visitors, underscored the impact of Ganshoren’s strategic substitutions and resilient defensive performance on the road.