There is little to report from Belgium after Round 32 of the 34-game regular season was contested, as Chris Durkin was the only American to play any minutes.
The season will continue after the international break with some Americans fighting it out for a coveted playoff spot in either of the two groups, while others know that their summer vacations will start in April.
Sint Truiden 3 – 2 Beereschot
Chris Durkin played the final 18 minutes for Sint Truiden when they hosted already relegated Beerschot by a 3-2 score.
The teams traded goals before Durkin’s entrance, with the hosts initially taking the lead in the 13th minute thanks to Christian Brüls, only to have Beerschot’s Musashi Suzuki equalize just over ten minutes later.
Sint-Truiden re-took the lead at the half-hour thanks to Taichi Hara, only to see last-place Beerschot equalize in the 67th minute on Stipe Radic’s goal.
The game looked to be headed to a draw until Aboubakary Koita scored the winner for the hosts with three minutes left in regulation.
The three points leaves the Canaries in ninth place, equal to eighth-place Genk on points, so still have a chance at claiming that last playoff spot at the expense of Mark McKenzie’s team.
Notes
KV Oostende went to Brussels on Friday night and came away with a point against league leaders Union Saint Gilloise. Kyle Duncan didn’t take part in this fixture although the point means that the Seasiders are mathematically safe from relegation. With nothing to play for, KVO will go up against already relegated Seraing over the weekend.
Sam Vines didn’t take part in Royal Antwerp’s 1-0 win over Zulte Waregem on Saturday night. The three points was crucial for the Great Old as they now sit in third place on 59 points, just one ahead of Gent and Anderlecht as the battle for the top four playoffs heats up with just a pair of games left to play. Vines and his team will head to Leuven after the break.
Club Brugge hosted Genk and neither Owen Otasowie nor Mark McKenzie took part in this 3-1 Club victory. The three points keeps the hosts in second place, while Genk hold onto the eighth spot. They’ll have to fight it out with STVV if they hope to continue into the post-season. Club take on Beerschot next, while Genk hosts Eupen.
Bryan Reynolds never got off the bench when Kortrijk hosted Standard Liege and lost to a late goal. The 1-0 loss means that the Kerels now have no possibility of making it into the playoffs, so their next game against Mechelen after the international break has no significance.
Molenbeek beat last place Excelsior Virton but again Jacob Montes took no part in the action. The 3-0 win means that Molenbeek will make it into the promotion playoff where they will play a home-away series against the penultimate team in the Pro League. Next up for the Brussels boys before them however is a trip to Deinze.
