HEVERLEE, Belgium (Interstat) — Sporting Oud-Heverlee opened its Belgian First Division A campaign with a dramatic 3-2 victory over Dender on Saturday, overcoming a late surge from the visitors at King Power at Den Dreef Stadion.

The match, played on Feb. 14, 2026, defied a pregame projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 1-1 draw. Instead, the hosts delivered an energetic performance to secure three points and begin the season with a win, while Dender left empty-handed.

Sporting Oud-Heverlee established early dominance with two quick goals. Substitute Roman Květ made an immediate impact, opening the scoring just seven minutes into the contest. The lead doubled before the 20-minute mark when forward Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi found the net, putting the home side firmly in control.

Dender struggled to generate consistent offense in the first half, and Oud-Heverlee appeared to put the game out of reach five minutes before halftime. Midfielder Łukasz Łakomy netted the home side’s third goal, capitalizing on a defensive lapse to give his team a commanding 3-0 advantage at the break.

The second half saw a shift in momentum as Dender mounted a determined comeback. The visitors pulled a goal back in the 61st minute through forward Sory Kaba, assisted by substitute Fabio Ferraro. The goal injected new life into the match and increased pressure on the Oud-Heverlee defense.

Dender’s resurgence continued in the 78th minute. Another substitute, Bruny Nsimba, cut the deficit to a single goal, finishing an assist from forward Henok Teklab to set up a tense finale at 3-2.

The match grew increasingly physical as Dender pressed for an equalizer. Three yellow cards were issued in the second half, with Dender’ Ferraro booked in the 33rd minute and Teklab in the 81st. Oud-Heverlee defender Óscar Gil, who recorded an assist earlier, received a caution in the first minute of stoppage time.

Despite sustained pressure in the final minutes, including several set-piece opportunities, Oud-Heverlee’s defense held firm to preserve the narrow victory. The final whistle confirmed a winning start to the league season for Sporting Oud-Heverlee, which improved its record across all competitions to one win and no losses. Dender begins its season with a loss in both league and overall play.

Key performances included Oud-Heverlee’s Łakomy, whose first-half goal proved to be the eventual game-winner, and the impactful substitutes for both sides. Květ and Ikwuemesi provided the early offensive spark for the winners, while Dender’s second-half push was fueled by contributions from Kaba, Nsimba and playmakers Ferraro and Teklab.

The result provides a positive foundation for Sporting Oud-Heverlee’s league ambitions, while Dender will look to rebound from a narrow defeat that showcased both early vulnerabilities and a resilient fighting spirit.