Jupiler Pro League
Zulte Waregem edge SK Beveren in Waregem derby at Elindus Arena
Two first-half goals secure a comfortable home win in the Jupiler Pro League.
Zulte Waregem recorded a solid 2-0 victory over SK Beveren at the Elindus Arena, moving up to seventh in the Jupiler Pro League table. The result left SK Beveren searching for their first points after two matches, sitting in tenth place.
The home side started brightly and took the lead in the 21st minute through Thibo Claes, who found the back of the net to give Zulte Waregem a deserved advantage. The goal set the tone for a dominant first half, and they doubled their lead just before the break when Zinho Atrok scored in the 35th minute, capitalising on an assist from Thibo Hedl.
SK Beveren struggled to create meaningful chances throughout the opening period and went into halftime trailing by two goals. Despite making efforts to push forward in the second half, they were unable to breach the Zulte Waregem defence, which remained compact and organised under Michael Beale's 4-3-2-1 system.
Both teams had opportunities in the final thirty minutes, but neither managed to add to the scoreline. Zulte Waregem's midfield controlled proceedings, while SK Beveren's 4-1-4-1 formation failed to produce the attacking cohesion needed to mount a serious comeback.
Discipline issues surfaced for SK Beveren early in the match, with C. Janssens receiving a yellow card in the 17th minute followed by S. Dewaele in the 42nd minute. These cautions disrupted the visitors' rhythm and limited their tactical flexibility.
Referee M. Allaerts kept tight control of the fixture, ensuring the contest remained competitive yet fair. His decisions generally aligned with the flow of play, and he booked only the two SK Beveren players for their indiscipline.
The win provided Zulte Waregem with momentum heading into the international break, while SK Beveren will need to regroup quickly ahead of their next league fixture. Both sides now turn their attention to improving their respective campaigns in the coming weeks.
With four points from two matches, Zulte Waregem sit comfortably in the top half of the table, whereas SK Beveren remain winless and must address their defensive lapses and lack of goal threat if they hope to climb the standings.