ASV Geel Hold Promotion Contenders Zepperen-Brustem to a 1-1 Draw

Geel (The Brussels Morning Newspaper) – October 12, 2026 – ASV Geel earned a 1-1 draw away to Zepperen-Brustem in Belgium’s Third National Division B after recovering from a first-half deficit. Dylan Vanwelkenhuysen gave the home side the lead shortly before half-time, before substitute Jordy Elens equalised from a set-piece situation in the second half. Geel subsequently had Olivier Peios and Simon Van Geet sent off, leaving the visitors to defend their point with nine players. Manager Niels Houben praised his side’s resilience after the match, describing the result as a positive outcome against one of the division’s title contenders.

How Did ASV Geel Secure a Draw Against Zepperen-Brustem?

ASV Geel secured a 1-1 draw against KVV Zepperen-Brustem on Sunday, 11 October, despite finishing the match with nine players. The result followed a contest in which the home side took the lead before Geel responded after the interval.

According to reports by Voetbal24 and Sportactua, Dylan Vanwelkenhuysen opened the scoring in the 41st minute. Elens restored parity in the 66th minute, ensuring the visitors took a point from a challenging away fixture.

The result was particularly notable for Geel because Zepperen-Brustem had established itself among the leading sides in the division. The home team had also maintained a strong record on its own ground before the meeting, according to Voetbal24.

Geel manager Niels Houben said he was satisfied with the determination his players demonstrated against a team competing near the top of the standings.

Houben also acknowledged the difficulty of defending a result after two players had been dismissed. With the visitors reduced to nine men during the closing stages, goalkeeper Tom Wagemans made important saves as Geel worked to preserve the draw.

When Did Zepperen-Brustem Take the Lead?

Zepperen-Brustem moved ahead in the 41st minute through Dylan Vanwelkenhuysen, giving the hosts a 1-0 advantage shortly before the interval.

The striker had been identified as an important attacking threat before the match. Nicolas Mombaerts, a Geel player, had highlighted Vanwelkenhuysen as someone his team needed to prevent from scoring.

However, the forward converted his opportunity to put Zepperen-Brustem ahead.

Houben acknowledged the striker’s finishing ability when discussing the goal after the game. He explained that Geel knew Vanwelkenhuysen was a natural goalscorer and that he had taken advantage of his opportunity.

The opening goal meant Geel had to recover from another deficit. The team had also needed to come from behind in its preceding league match against Nieuwmoer, according to the report published by Voetbal24.

Despite conceding before half-time, the visitors remained in contention and produced a stronger performance after returning from the dressing room.

How Did Jordy Elens Bring Geel Back Into the Match?

Geel equalised in the 66th minute when substitute Jordy Elens scored from a set-piece situation.

Elens had entered the match at half-time, replacing Ham, as Houben made a change to his team. His introduction proved important when the visitors found the goal needed to level the score.

Houben said Geel had started the second half strongly and considered his team the better side during that period. He added that Zepperen-Brustem created relatively few further opportunities after the equaliser.

The goal changed the situation for both teams. Geel had recovered from the first-half setback, while the hosts were unable to restore their advantage before the visitors’ disciplinary problems complicated the closing stages.

The 1-1 scoreline remained unchanged despite the pressure Geel faced after losing two players.

Why Did Geel Finish the Match With Nine Players?

Geel’s task became significantly more difficult in the final stages after two players were dismissed.

Olivier Peios received a straight red card in the 85th minute. Simon Van Geet was then sent off in the 89th minute after receiving a second yellow card.

Van Geet had already been booked in the 68th minute. His second booking left Geel with nine players for the remainder of the contest.

The dismissals forced the visitors to concentrate on protecting their goal as Zepperen-Brustem looked for a late winner.

Houben described the situation as one in which his team had to fight to survive. He acknowledged that the opposition could still find a decisive opportunity, particularly with Geel having so few players available.

However, the visitors held on to secure the draw.

The match officials recorded yellow cards for several players from both teams. For Geel, Ifrassen, Elens and Van Geet were booked, with Van Geet receiving two cautions before his dismissal. Zepperen-Brustem players also received yellow cards during the contest.

The disciplinary incidents were a defining feature of the closing stages, as Geel sought to maintain its defensive organisation with a numerical disadvantage.

What Role Did Goalkeeper Tom Wagemans Play in the Result?

Goalkeeper Tom Wagemans helped Geel preserve the draw during the closing stages.

With the visitors down to nine players, Zepperen-Brustem retained the opportunity to exploit the numerical advantage and search for a winning goal. Wagemans responded with one or two important saves, according to Houben’s post-match comments reported by Voetbal24.

The manager credited the collective effort of his players, while also recognising the goalkeeper’s contribution.

Houben explained that his side had managed to get the point over the line despite the difficult circumstances. His comments reflected the challenge of protecting a result against a team regarded as one of the division’s leading contenders.

The final score remained 1-1, giving Geel a point from an away fixture in which the visitors had recovered from a deficit and subsequently faced the challenge of playing with nine men.

What Did Niels Houben Say About Geel’s Performance?

Houben expressed satisfaction with his team’s resilience and the result against Zepperen-Brustem.

He said that taking a point from a title contender away from home was a positive outcome, particularly after ending the match with nine players.

The manager also discussed the competitive nature of the division. Comparing the current campaign with the previous season, he said teams in the present competition placed greater emphasis on physical contests, second balls and individual duels.

Houben suggested that his players had made progress in responding to those demands over recent weeks.

He referred to the match against Turnhout as a point after which some players appeared to have changed their approach. Although the football had not always been particularly impressive in recent matches, Geel had demonstrated greater determination in its contests against Nieuwmoer and Zepperen-Brustem.

Following the draw, Houben said he was concentrating on the next fixture rather than making predictions about where the team might finish in the standings.

He had previously emphasised that Geel would need to compete hard for every point during the season.

Where Does Geel Stand After Nine League Matches?

After nine matches, ASV Geel had accumulated 12 points and occupied a mid-table position, according to Voetbal24.

The draw followed a demanding sequence of fixtures, including a 5-1 defeat against KFC Turnhout on 30 September and a 3-2 victory over Nieuwmoer on 3 October.

The result against Zepperen-Brustem therefore added another point after Geel had responded to its heavy derby defeat with a win in the preceding round.

Zepperen-Brustem entered the match among the division’s title contenders. The home side’s previous results had included victories against SK Lommel B, KVC Lille United, OHR Huldenberg and FC Averbode-Testelt-Okselaar, although it lost 2-0 away to Achel before facing Geel.

The 1-1 draw prevented Zepperen-Brustem from taking all three points, while Geel continued its effort to establish greater consistency in the league.

Geel’s next scheduled league fixture was against Wezel Sport on 17 October, according to the published fixture listings.

What Is the Background to Geel’s Current Season?

ASV Geel entered the 2026-27 campaign with a substantially reshaped squad and ambitions to progress towards the higher levels of Belgian amateur football.

The club had made several changes to its playing personnel during the summer, with new arrivals joining the team under Houben. Earlier reports from Voetbal24 described the rebuilding process and the need for the players to develop their understanding as the season progressed.

Zepperen-Brustem, meanwhile, had finished fifth during the 2025-26 season and began the current campaign with results that placed it among the division’s leading teams. A preview published by ASV Geel on 6 October highlighted the hosts’ strong start and their position in the upper part of the table.

The meeting consequently brought together a Geel side seeking consistency and a home team pursuing another strong campaign.