Both Joe Efford and his Crystal Palace loanee team mate, Jacob Montes both saw action in a losing effort, while Mark McKenzie helped Genk to a Pro League point
Waasland-Beveren 0 – 2 Westerlo
Westerlo made the 40-mile trip west to take on Joe Efford and his Wolves in Belgian First Division B action. The Georgia native got the nod and put in a 78-minute shift, when he made way for fellow American Jacob Montes, who saw his first action in a W-B shirt. A pair of first half goals was all the visitors needed to take home all of the points. Tuur Dierckx bagged the first one, followed by Jan Bernat’s second just before the intermission.
It only took 21 minutes for the visitors to celebrate their first goal that came from a corner kick. The ball was sent into the box and with the hosts failing to clear the area; Dierckx had an uncontested shot from 10 yards out that he easily whacked into the back of Nordin Jackers’ net.
Late in the half, Kyan Vaesen latched onto a through ball from Dierckx inside right of the 18-yard box. The Belgian attacker struck it low but Jackers got down quickly and blocked the shot. The ball came back to him and the 20-year-old squared it for his Slovak teammate who was all alone in front of goal and registered his third of the season at the 45-minute mark.
W-B started the second half of the game more lively than they played the first half and with 54 minutes gone, they had a couple of excellent chances to light up the scoreboard. Jacob Jacobsen delivered an excellent ball into the box from the right flank and Joan Edmundsson made great contact with his head but the crossbar made the save. The ball fortuitously stayed in play and the Faroe Islander had another stab at it but this effort was blocked and cleared out of the box. It didn’t go very far however and was sent back into the danger zone. In the end, Edmundsson had an easy tap in at the far post from two yards out but he hit it wide.
In the 69th minute another chance at a goal, this time from Leonardo Bertone, but all that he could do was rattle the crossbar. In the 86th minute an even better chance presented itself when Edmundsson was brought down in the box and the referee pointed to the spot. Frenchman Kevin Hoggas placed the ball down, put his foot though it and missed the target completely, sending it yards over the crossbar.
The loss leaves the team in fourth place after just four games into the season. They’ll be looking to find some points on Friday night when they head to Brussels to take on Molenbeek. Both Yanks will be looking to take part in this one as well.
Notes
Mark McKenzie came off the bench in the second half to shore up Genk’s defense against Union St-Gilloise on Sunday evening. It took Genk 73 minutes before they were able to find a way through the visitors’ defense via a penalty. The Brussels team however rescued a point deep in stoppage time.
Genk will head to the Austrian capital midweek where they will go up against Rapid Vienna in Europa League action before coming back to Belgium and heading to Sint-Truiden to meet up with Chris Durkin and his Canaries.
Owen Otasowie was not on the team sheet as Club Brugge came away with a 3-0 win over KV Oostende at Jan Breydel Stadium. Next up is a bit of Champions League action as Club welcomes Lionel Messi and PSG to town. They’ll then travel to Charleroi over the weekend.
Sam Vines did not suit up for Royal Antwerp’s trip to Eupen on Saturday afternoon. The team from the diamond city did pick up the 1-0 victory however. Next up they’ll travel to Greece in midweek to take on Olympiakos in Europa League action before returning to Belgium for a home game against Seraing.
Chris Durkin and Sint-Truiden hit the road to Antwerp on Monday night to take on Beerschot, who sit in last place in the Pro League standings.
