KV Mechelen secured a 4-3 victory against STVV in a high-scoring Belgian Pro League fixture at the Achter de Kazerne, lifting the club off the bottom of the league table and handing the last-place position to Cercle Brugge, according to match reports from Voetbalkrant.com. With respective season starts of 3 and 8 points, neither KV Mechelen nor STVV had envisioned such a struggle, though the board had previously expressed confidence in coach Fred Vanderbiest despite the acute points shortage.

Defensive errors and own goals shape the first half

The match began with early possession for the visiting Kanaries, but KV Mechelen quickly took control through counter-attacking speed. Vanderbiest made notable lineup adjustments by giving Raman the start while placing Praet on the bench, alongside fellow inclusions Corbanie and Decherf, while STVV deployed Takai in the defensive line as an extra Japanese starter. An opening surge from Raman produced a dangerous cross toward Boersma, which STVV debutant Takai inadvertently turned into his own net to give Mechelen a 1-0 lead. STVV responded with a strong effort from Merlen that forced a save from Mechelen goalkeeper Miras, though Bazdar had earlier struck the crossbar with a header following an injudicious rush from Miras. Just before halftime, a shot from Van Brederode deflected off Taniguchi for a second own goal, stretching Mechelen’s lead to 3-0.

STVV fights back in a seven-goal thriller

Despite the three-goal deficit, STVV mounted a determined comeback as visiting supporters already called for coach Christian De Meyer to leave. Bazdar converted a free kick from Merlen with the aid of a touch from Boersma to make it 3-1. Shortly before and after the interval, pressure paid off again when a misplaced pass from Marsa went straight to Sebaoui, who curled the ball into the right corner to narrow the scoreline to 3-2. However, Soelle Soelle struck back against his former club from close range to make it 4-3, setting up a tense finish.

Late pressure and standings implications

Under intense pressure in the final minutes due to a lack of forward speed, Mechelen relied on crucial saves from Miras to deny late attempts from Vanwesemael and Sebaoui, prompting Vanderbiest to introduce fresh blood. Substitute Antonio also came close for the hosts, striking the crossbar with a powerful effort from the right side. In the 96th minute, STVV missed a golden opportunity to equalize at 4-4. The result marks Mechelen’s first victory against STVV in eleven head-to-head matches, moving coach Fred Vanderbiest’s side up to 14th place in the standings while deepening the pressure on Christian De Meyer.