DENDERLEEUW, Belgium (Interstat) — Substitute Ibe Hautekiet scored just seconds after entering the match to lift Standard Liege to a narrow 1-0 victory over Dender in a Belgian First Division A contest Saturday at the DENDER Football Complex.

The match, played Dec. 20, 2025, was decided by a moment of immediate impact from the bench. Hautekiet, who had just been introduced, found the net merely a minute after his arrival, capitalizing on a swift Standard Liege attack in the second half. The decisive play was orchestrated by forward Mohamed Berte, who provided the assist for the lone goal. Defender Luc De Fougerous also registered an assist on the play.

The early goal forced Dender to chase the game, but the home side struggled to break down a disciplined Standard Liege defense. The visitors managed the remainder of the match effectively, preserving their clean sheet and securing all three points to open their league campaign.

The result defied the offensive expectations set by pregame analytics. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a higher-scoring affair, with a final score of 3-1 in favor of Standard Liege. Furthermore, the organization’s ELO rating system gave Standard Liege an 82.20 percent probability of winning the match, a forecast that proved accurate in outcome if not in the method of victory.

The match was a physical encounter, reflected in five yellow cards issued by the officiating crew. Dender’s Malcolm Viltard was booked in the 31st minute, followed by teammate Luc Marijnissen in the 39th. Standard Liege’s goal contributor Mohamed Berte received a caution in the 44th minute, and assist-man Luc De Fougerous was booked in the 56th. Dender’s Lucas Pirard rounded out the disciplinary actions with a yellow card in the 84th minute.

With the win, Standard Liege begins its First Division A season with a perfect record of one win and no losses. Dender starts its campaign with one loss and no wins. The records mirror each team’s overall form across all competitions to start the 2025-26 season.

The victory provides Standard Liege with a positive start as they look to contend in the league, while Dender will aim to regroup after a home opener where they kept the match close but ultimately failed to generate the scoring needed for a result.