MESSANCY, Belgium (Interstat) — Julio Gashi scored in the 88th minute Saturday, Sept. 19, 2026, lifting Elsautoise to a 1-0 victory at Messancy in a Belgian Division 3 match. Gashi, a defender, played 20 minutes and recorded the only goal of the game. The visitors left with the win after a tightly contested match that remained scoreless until the closing stages.

The match grew physical as the second half wore on. Elsautoise’s Adrien Lecloux was booked in the 20th minute. Messancy’s Thélio Zanier received a yellow card in the 79th minute. Christian Muaka of Messancy was sent off in the 83rd minute, leaving the home side with 10 men. Elsautoise took advantage five minutes later when Gashi struck in the 88th. Isaiah Blondiaux of Elsautoise was cautioned in the 90th minute, and teammate Gary Deville was booked in the fourth minute of stoppage time. The late flurry of cards came after Messancy pushed for an equalizer and Elsautoise protected its narrow lead.

The victory moved Elsautoise to 2-0-1 in Division 3 and 2-0-1 across all competitions. Messancy fell to 1-1-1 in the competition and 1-1-1 overall. Elsautoise entered the match after a 3-1 home win over Sprimont on Sept. 13 and a 1-1 draw at Malmundaria on Sept. 5. Messancy had drawn 2-2 at Tilff on Sept. 13 and beaten visiting Mormont 3-2 on Sept. 5. The result leaves Elsautoise unbeaten through its first three league matches while Messancy remains level at one win, one loss and one draw.

Elsautoise returns home to face Libramont on Sept. 27. The club then visits Waremme on Oct. 4, hosts Habay-La-Neuve on Oct. 11, visits Ans on Oct. 18 and hosts Geer on Oct. 25. Elsautoise visits Momalle on Nov. 1, hosts Mormont on Nov. 8, visits Tilff on Nov. 15, visits Aubel on Nov. 22 and hosts Verlaine on Nov. 29. All of those matches are Division 3 fixtures.

Messancy visits Verlaine on Sept. 27 before hosting RRC Longlier on Oct. 3. Messancy then visits Meix-dt-Virton on Oct. 11, hosts Malmundaria on Oct. 17, visits Sprimont on Oct. 24 and visits Aubel on Nov. 1. Messancy hosts Libramont on Nov. 7, visits Waremme on Nov. 15, hosts Habay-La-Neuve on Nov. 21 and visits Ans on Nov. 29. Those 10 games also come in Division 3 play.

Elsautoise will carry momentum into the next stretch of the schedule after scoring late on the road. Messancy will look to regroup at Verlaine before returning home against RRC Longlier. The match was one of several Division 3 fixtures scheduled across Belgium on the weekend. Elsautoise took the lead in the 88th minute, and Messancy could not answer before the final whistle. The disciplinary record included four yellow cards and one red card. Muaka’s dismissal left Messancy with 10 men before Gashi’s goal.

The victory gives Elsautoise its second win of the season and keeps the club unbeaten in league and overall play. Messancy’s first loss of the league campaign leaves the club with one win and one draw. Elsautoise has now scored five goals in its first three league matches while conceding two. Messancy has scored five goals in its first three league matches while conceding five. The teams will not meet again in the listed schedule. Both clubs remain in Division 3, with a busy run of fixtures ahead through late November. Elsautoise’s next match is at home, while Messancy begins its next stretch on the road.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Elsautoise 1, Messancy 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Messancy with a 64.8 percent probability to win. The simulation and ELO projections were released before the match.