It was a tough weekend for the Yanks in Belgium with Sam Vines’, Mark McKenzie’s and Chris Durkin’s teams all tasting defeat, while Owen Otasowie is still waiting for his Club Brugge introduction.
Antwerp 2 – 3 Standard Liege
Sam Vines and Antwerp are barely hanging on to a top four playoff spot after blowing their lead late in the loss against Liege. Sam Vines went the distance for the Great Old as they now sit just two points above fifth place Anderlecht in the Pro League standings.
The net bending didn’t get started until after the intermission and not long after, as Konstantino Laifis struck in the 57th minute to give les Rouches the lead. It was short lived however as Bjorn Engels struck back nine minutes later with the assist from Benson Manuel.
Eleven minutes afterwards Manuel played provider yet again, this time for 20 year-old Michel-Ange Balikwisha’s first goal of the season.
The fans optimism and dreams of all three points were turned to sighs when they witnessed Mehdi Carcela-González’s goal three minutes before the full 90 were played. To make matters worse, two minutes later Jackson Muleka found the game winner for Standard.
Vines and Antwerp be at home again on Thursday night, this time against Eupen where they’ll hope to get their season back on track.
Gent 1 – 0 Genk
Mark McKenzie got the nod in Genk’s defense and played the duration, however in a losing effort as the Buffaloes found a first half game winner in this tightly contested game in East Flanders.
The hosts narrowly dominated possession, with 53% of the ball, but it was the 29th-minute strike by Julien De Sart strike that made all the difference. The loss drops the Smurfs down to 11th place, and 10 points out of a top four spot.
Next up Genk will welcome Sporting Charleroi to Limburg on Wednesday night.
Notes
In D2 action, Joe Efford played for 73 minutes and provided an assist for Waasland-Beveren as they destroyed Deinze by a 4-1 score line. Jacob Montes made a cameo as well, coming on in the 78th minute. On Friday night the American duo will hit the road for a battle against Lommel.
Chris Durkin never left the bench when Sint Truiden hosted Cercle Brugge at the Stayen. The hosts fought back after going a goal down but a 75th minute strike sealed the 2-1 victory for Brugge’s second team. Up next for the Canaries is a Tuesday night trip to Brussels to take on Vincent Kompany’s Anderlecht.
Club Brugge beat Zulte Waregem 3-0 but Owen Otasowie was not involved in the action or on the bench for the first-team squad. He’ll hope to take part when the Belgian champions travel to Leuven on Wednesday night.