Late Winner Propels Excelsior Virton Past Standard Liège II in Five-Goal Thriller, Cementing Early Season Intentions

At the SL16 Football Campus on a damp autumn afternoon, Excelsior Virton turned a tense First Amateur Division clash into a statement of ambition, edging Standard Liège II 3-2 with a stoppage-time strike that underscored Virton’s reemergence as a force in the promotion chase. In a match marked by relentless momentum swings, both sides revealed their strengths and frailties, but it was Virton’s poise in decisive moments that carried the day.

Early Promise and Rapid Response

Standard Liège II, seeking to shake off a humbling 4-0 defeat at Tubize last weekend, started with intent and bravado. Their youthful squad pressed high from kickoff, and the early pressure was rewarded in the 22nd minute. A sharp combination down the right flank led to a low cross and a crisp finish at the near post, giving Standard a deserved 1-0 advantage and a much-needed confidence boost after recent defensive woes.

But the lead lasted only seven minutes. Virton—still smarting from a narrow loss to Union Saint-Gilloise II—responded with the resilience that has become their hallmark. Their equalizer in the 29th minute arose from a sustained spell of possession; a deft through ball split the Standard defense, and the finish was clinical. The goal did more than level the score: it dampened Standard’s early momentum and shifted the mood in the stadium.

Seizing Control After the Break

Emerging from halftime, Virton made their intent clear. Just four minutes into the second half, a high press forced a turnover in Standard’s defensive third. Seizing the opportunity, Virton flooded forward—three passes later, the ball was in the net. The 49th-minute strike gave Virton a 2-1 lead and exposed vulnerabilities in Standard’s buildup play, which has troubled them across a run of just one win in their last five outings.

Standard, buoyed by home support, refused to yield. As the match entered its final quarter, the hosts found urgency. In the 78th minute, persistence from their midfield paid off. A well-angled shot from the edge of the area ricocheted off the post and into the net, drawing Standard back to 2-2. The goal set the stage for a dramatic conclusion, as both sides pushed forward in search of a decisive blow.

Dramatic Denouement and Broader Implications

With the match seemingly destined for a draw—an outcome neither side would have relished—Virton capitalized on a rare lapse in the Standard backline. Deep into stoppage time, a looping cross from the left caused chaos at the far post; amid the scramble, a Virton attacker prodded home from close range, sparking wild celebrations on the visitors’ bench and despair among the home faithful.

The 3-2 victory catapults Excelsior Virton to fifth place in the standings with six points from three matches (2 wins, 1 loss), affirming their credentials as one of the division’s early pacesetters. After a flurry of draws—including two 2-2 stalemates against Sporting Charleroi II and Rochefort—Virton have shown they possess both attacking spark and the discipline to close out contests under pressure.

For Standard Liège II, the defeat compounds a troubling pattern. With just one win in their last five, and a goal difference battered by heavy losses to Tubize and Albert Quévy-Mons, the team faces urgent questions about their defensive organization and game management. The promise shown in their 4-2 triumph over Union Saint-Gilloise II now feels distant, with inconsistency becoming a central theme of their young campaign.

Tactical Trends and Notable Absences

Throughout the contest, both sides played with verve but revealed tactical naivety—turnovers in midfield led to chances at both ends, making for an open, entertaining spectacle but one that left coaches on the sidelines exasperated. No red cards punctuated the proceedings, but a flurry of late bookings reflected the rising tension as the match clock ticked toward full time.

Interestingly, today’s encounter broke from recent head-to-head patterns: last season’s meetings were tightly contested, with neither side able to impose sustained dominance. Virton’s late flourish, then, may well foreshadow a shift in the hierarchy between these two ambitious squads.

Stakes Ahead

For Virton, the challenge will be to sustain this newfound momentum and shed the tag of perennial draw specialists. The late winner at SL16 Football Campus marks an inflection point in their season—the kind of gritty, dramatic victory that can galvanize a campaign and kindle belief in the locker room.

Standard Liège II, meanwhile, must regroup quickly. With defensive leaks mounting and a daunting fixture list ahead, the focus shifts to regrouping and instilling greater resilience. Their attacking flashes show promise, but unless they stem the flow at the back, the early weeks of the season may slip away before their potential is realized.

Today, at least, belonged to Excelsior Virton—a team that continues to believe, and, crucially, found a way to win when it mattered most.