Heist Salvages a Point in Late Drama as Berchem Sport’s Winless Streak Continues: Playoff Race Remains Tight in Belgium’s Second Amateur Division

By the time the final whistle sounded at the Gemeentelijk Sportcentrum on Saturday evening, the collective exhale from the Heist faithful was almost as audible as the shouts from a fatigued but resolute Berchem Sport squad. A 2-2 draw, carved out through momentum shifts, nervy defending and late drama, left both teams with mixed emotions and plotlines to ponder as the Second Amateur Division – VFV B campaign reached an early but pivotal checkpoint.

Heist, searching for stability after an inconsistent run, entered desperate to rebound from last week’s narrow defeat at Tongeren, but it was Berchem Sport, winless in three and eager to halt their own slide, who seized the initiative from kickoff. The visitors pressed high and pressed early, their energy resulting in a wave of chances that tested Heist goalkeeper and defenders within the first ten minutes.

It was Berchem’s talismanic forward, Dirk De Smet, who broke the deadlock in the 16th minute. Capitalizing on a turnover in midfield, De Smet surged forward, exchanged a slick one-two with midfielder Kevin Peeters and slotted calmly past Heist’s keeper from just inside the box. The goal, Berchem’s first on the road since mid-September, injected a confidence sorely missing from last week’s limp 0-1 defeat at Londerzeel.

Heist, temporarily rattled, responded with urgency, growing into the contest by the half-hour mark. Their equalizer owed much to the industry of winger Samir Bouzid, who darted down the right before delivering a teasing cross. The ensuing melee saw the ball break kindly for captain Jonas Van Damme, who swept home from close range in the 34th minute, restoring parity and reigniting the home crowd.

The second half unfolded with both sides balancing aggression and caution—aware how a misstep could deepen either’s early-season frustrations. Heist edged possession but struggled to carve out clear chances against a disciplined Berchem back line marshaled by veteran center half Pieter Van den Broeck.

Then, in the 68th minute, Berchem struck again. A corner whipped in by Peeters found its way to defender Arnaud Van Gucht, who powered a header beyond the outstretched gloves of Heist’s keeper. The away contingent erupted—suddenly, Berchem stood tantalizingly close to a statement win.

But as has become familiar in this section of the table, games rarely follow a predictable script. With time slipping away, Heist pressed forward. In the 84th minute, a clever interchange between Bouzid and substitute striker Lucas Truyts unlocked Berchem’s defense, drawing a rash challenge in the area. Penalty awarded. Van Damme, composed under pressure, converted for his second of the evening, salvaging a draw and perhaps sparing Heist heavier soul-searching.

If the final exuberance belonged to Heist, the larger picture is less conclusive for both teams. For Heist, the result means they have now taken eight points from their last five matches—a sample that includes a win at Racing Mechelen and a resolute 2-1 home victory over Wellen. Tonight’s draw was hard-fought, but dropped points at home keep them hovering just outside the division’s playoff places.

Berchem Sport, meanwhile, extended a worrying winless streak to three. While the attacking verve returned after a barren spell, the inability to see out a lead mirrored issues from their earlier 1-1 draws against Tongeren and Sint-Truiden II. Their last win, a comprehensive 3-1 at Bocholt, is already fading in the rearview.

The league table remains tightly packed in mid-October, neither side finding real separation. Heist’s recent run—two wins, two draws, one defeat—reflects a team capable of challenging, but lacking a clinical edge in decisive moments. Berchem’s trajectory is more erratic: flashes of attacking promise but an ongoing struggle to convert strong play into victories.

Their head-to-head history has rarely been short of drama, with matches often decided by a single goal or less. Tonight’s see-saw affair simply adds another chapter to a rivalry characterized by high stakes and narrow margins.

Notably, the match was played with discipline—no red cards issued, yet tempers frayed in the final ten minutes as both benches sensed the stakes. In the aftermath, coaches for both squads emphasized the need for resilience and improvement: for Heist, to solidify their home form and push into the coveted playoff spots; for Berchem, to end their drought and wrestle back momentum before the season’s midpoint.

What’s at stake now is clear. With the table delicately poised and only a handful of points separating dreamers from doubters, every fixture carries weight. Heist must find consistency if they are to mount a sustained playoff charge; Berchem Sport—well-drilled but vulnerable—must solve their late-game woes to avoid a campaign stuck in neutral. The Second Amateur Division’s next storylines are already writing themselves.