Sint-Truidense 1-2 Oud-Heverlee Leuven: Oud-Heverlee Leuven edged a tense Belgian Pro League contest at Stayen on Sunday, November 1, 2026, beating Sint-Truidense 2-1 thanks to a late winner. The visitors struck early, absorbed pressure after the break, and found the decisive moment in the closing stages to take all three points from a match that swung repeatedly.

Match overview

Sint-Truidense controlled much of the ball and pushed numbers forward through the second half, but Oud-Heverlee Leuven defended with discipline and carried a consistent counter-attacking threat. The home side’s best spells came after the interval, when quick combinations around the penalty area created a string of half-chances and forced Leuven into deeper and deeper defending.

The opening goal arrived in the 14th minute when Leuven pressed high, won possession near the touchline, and worked the ball into the box for Joren De Cuyper to finish low past the goalkeeper. Sint-Truiden responded well, dictating tempo through midfield and stretching the visitors with switches of play, but the equaliser did not arrive until the 57th minute. Kaito Miyazaki collected the ball on the edge of the area, shifted onto his stronger foot, and curled a precise effort into the far corner.

With the game level, Sint-Truiden sensed a winner and committed more bodies forward. That left space behind, and Leuven punished them in the 84th minute. A rapid break ended with Youssef El Azzouzi driving into the box and finishing calmly to restore the visitors’ lead. Sint-Truiden threw everything forward in stoppage time, but Leuven’s back line held firm.

Key moments

• 14th minute – Leuven take the lead: A high press forced a turnover and Joren De Cuyper finished from close range after a low cross into the six-yard box.
• 57th minute – Sint-Truiden equalise: Kaito Miyazaki cut inside from the left and curled a right-footed shot beyond the goalkeeper to make it 1-1.
• 84th minute – Leuven win it: Youssef El Azzouzi led a fast counter, exchanged a pass on the edge of the area, and slotted the ball into the bottom corner.
• 90+4 – late pressure: Sint-Truiden won a corner and sent the goalkeeper forward, but Leuven cleared the second ball and ran down the clock.

Tactical story

Sint-Truiden set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape and looked to dominate possession through the middle, with the full-backs pushing high to create overloads. That approach worked for long stretches, but it also left the home side vulnerable to quick transitions. Leuven’s 3-4-2-1 formation was designed to stay compact centrally and spring forward through the wide channels, and the plan paid off in both goalscoring moments.

Leuven’s midfield block limited clear sight of goal in the first half, while their front two worked tirelessly to close down Sint-Truiden’s first pass out from the back. After the equaliser, the visitors dropped slightly deeper and invited pressure, but they defended their box well and relied on the speed of their forwards to carry the threat on the break. The winning goal was a textbook example: Sint-Truiden lost the ball in the attacking third, and Leuven went from defence to attack in a matter of seconds.

Standout players

Youssef El Azzouzi was the match-winner for Oud-Heverlee Leuven, combining sharp movement with a composed finish for the decisive goal. Joren De Cuyper also impressed with his pressing and link-up play, while goalkeeper Bram De Wolf made two important saves in the second half to keep Leuven level before the late breakthrough.

For Sint-Truiden, Kaito Miyazaki was the brightest attacking outlet and scored a goal worthy of rescuing a point. Midfielder Bram Van den Abbeele kept the home side ticking with tidy distribution, but the hosts lacked the final touch in the closing minutes. The defeat will frustrate a Sint-Truiden side that created enough chances to take something from the game.

Belgian Pro League impact

The result gives Oud-Heverlee Leuven an important away win and strengthens their position in the Belgian Pro League standings, moving them closer to the playoff places with a performance built on organisation and efficiency. Sint-Truiden remain in the mid-table pack, but this home defeat adds pressure ahead of a demanding run of fixtures. For Leuven, the three points are a reward for a disciplined away display; for Sint-Truiden, the focus will be on turning possession and territory into more clinical finishing.