Having taken the lead on two occasions in this Belgian Cup Round of 16 clash, Genk were minutes from a place in the quarterfinal, but a very late Charles De Ketelaere strike sent the game into penalties where Club Brugge prevailed.
Genk 3 – 3 Club Brugge (pen. 3-5)
Mark McKenzie started and played the full 120 minutes for the Smurfs on Wednesday, but Brugge player Owen Otasowie has still not taken part in any games for his new team this season, including this one, since joining in the summer from Wolverhampton in the English Championship.
Eder Balanta got the scoring underway for the visitors, who were already in Genk just three days ago in a Pro League clash that they also won, after just seven minutes thanks to Captain Hans Vanaken’s assist.
The hosts fought back and just before the half hour mark, Norwegian Kristian Thorstvedt got his team back on level terms.
Then in stoppage time just before the intermission Theo Bongonda set up Joseph Paintsil and Genk for another, to give the team a 2-1 lead as they headed into the locker room at the half.
Belgium’s next superstar, 20 year old Charles De Ketelaere, found the back of the net in the 69th minute to pull Brugge even again, but from the ensuing kick off, Bongonda and Paintsil combined again to steal the lead back in the 70th minute for the hosts.
Just as things were going well for the reigning Cup holders, up popped De Ketelaere again, and in went the ball past Tobe Leysen in the 89th minute to send the game into overtime.
After the additional 30 minutes saw no further goals, the game had to be decided by penalties. Slovak midfielder Patrik Hrošovský went first for Genk and was denied by former Liverpool keeper Simon Mignolet.
With that save and everyone else finding the back of the net, Club Brugge continue on in the competition while Genk gets to now concentrate on the league.
McKenzie’s crew will travel to Mechelen over the weekend while an Otasowie-less Club will host Seraing.
