Radja Nainggolan scored the only goal of the game as Lokeren beat Lierse to win their first game of the Challenger Pro League season. Lokeren finished in the play-offs last season but have had a terrible start to the second tier campaign this year. They had lost all four of their opening games before they faced a Lierse side on Friday night who had only won one of their opening games.
In a tight affair, a penalty conceded by Lierse defender Hugo Masaki was the decisive moment. The 37-year-old Nainggolan stepped up to score and earn his side three crucial points and a chance to kick start their campaign. Later on, Masakiโs night went from bad to worse when he was sent off just after an hour. Late on, Lokeren made it two in added time through Sumaila Wasiu, with Nainggolan the provider.
๐ฅ | Radja Nainggolan scoort de perfecte strafschop. ๐ฏ๐ #LOKLIE pic.twitter.com/Vmr7gc9oM5
โ DAZN Belgiรซ (@DAZN_BENL) September 12, 2025
Nainggolan joined Lokeren midway through the 2024/2025 campaign and ended the season with three goals and three assists in 15 games. He has already started this season well with two goals and an assist in six appearances. Lokeren are only the second Belgian team that the former Belgian international has played for during his career, with Nainggolan having spent a season and a bit with Antwerp back in 2021/2022.
GBeNeFNย |ย Ben Jackson
