While Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege made easy work of Oostende, Bryan Reynolds and Westerlo saw their dreams of a top four finish all but vanish after a stoppage time strike.
Oostende 1 – 3 Standard Liege
Although the fans are accustomed to bad weather on the Belgian coast when Oostende plays at home, they were not expecting the hurricane that came from Liege when the game got underway. Noah Ohio struck twice in the first 11 minutes and Marlon Fossey rippled the net not long after, giving the Dutchman a brace and the American his third of the season. The defender also put in a 69 minute shift as Standard are now in the melee for a top four spot.
The first goal came at the eight-minute mark when Aron Dønnum sailed the ball into the box and to the guy not from the American mid-west despite his name. Ohio easily tucked it away to give Liege the lead.
For his second, he found himself one-on-one with Guillaume Hubert and once again gave the big Belgian keeper the job of picking the ball out of the back of his net.
Fossey’s goal required a bit of luck or bad defending on the part of KVO. From a corner kick, Fraser Hornby did a poor job clearing the ball. As a matter of fact, he sent it right to the American who was on hand to use his head and make it 3-0.
Just before the first 45 minutes ended however, the Seasiders got one back through Kelvin Arase, however the Austrian’s first goal of the season would make no difference in the end.
Les Rouches pretty much dominated the game and things were made easier for them when Oostende shot themselves in the foot again, as they have done many times this season with another red card.
This time it was Osaze Urhoghide who made what could only be called a very stupid tackle that gave the referee no choice but to send him for a shower on the hour mark. KVO actually played well down a man but not good enough to get anything out of this game.
Standard will host Genk and Mark McKenzie this coming weekend for a battle of the Yanks.
Westerlo 2 – 3 Charleroi
Westerlo took a very early lead, thanks to Mathais Fixelles’ strike but were undone by a stoppage Charleroi goal as they watched all the points slip away in the 92nd minute courtesy of Youssouph Badji’s fifth goal of the season.
Bryan Reynolds got the starting nod after his international adventures and slipped into the right back position where he played the duration.
The first goal of the game came after just seven minutes, when Lukas Van Eenoo sent the ball to the far post and his Belgian colleague just managed to nod it between the post and the Zebras’ keeper.
It then took until the 35th minute for the visitors to get things squared again, and it came against the run of play as a Westerlo corner turned into a Charleroi goal.
Jackson Tchatchoua got ahold of the ball and charged down the field, eventually picking out Vakoun Bayo who blasted it into the back of the net for his second goal since joining up from Watford earlier this year.
Reynolds made a nice run with the ball at his feet and let loose a very good shot that Herve Koffi had to react quickly to in order to make the save. Minutes later and just before the half time whistle, Daan Heymans scored against the team where he started his professional career, so he was reluctant to over-celebrate.
At the hour mark the referee pointed to the spot after Thomas Van den Keybus was tripped up in the box. VAR had a look and called the ref over to have another look. The decision was changed and Charleroi fans could breathe a sigh of relief.
After a few half-chances at goal, Nene Dorgeles was bowled over in the box and this time the referee, with a bit more conviction than the last time, pointed to the spot and Tuur Dierckx ties the game up in the 89th minute.
Badji, who would have started the game, was feeling a bit sick so was left on the bench. He did make his appearance in the 77th minute and 15 minutes later celebrated the game-winner.
The loss leaves Westerlo six points behind Gent, who are in that crucial fourth place spot and with just three games left, they will need not only talent, but luck on their side. Up next will be a weekend trip to Brussels to take on Anderlecht.
Genk 2 – 1 Leuven
Back from international duty, Mark McKenzie slotted back into his defensive position for the Smurfs and at the end of the game, enjoyed celebrating three more points, keeping Genk in control of the top spot in the Pro League.
The American went the full 90 minutes as Bryan Heynen and Mike Tresor scored for the home team on either side of the intermission. Icelandic striker Jon Þorsteinsson scored Leuven’s only goal in the second half.
Genk were eager to get back to business after the international break and quickly went to work. In fact, the first five minutes saw them shoot at the goal thrice.
The relentless attacking paid off in the 23rd minute went Joseph Paintsil got around a defender and fired at the target, only to hit the post. It fortuitously fell in front of Heynen who brought his season goal tally into double digits.
Although the home side dominated, it was a very lucky Leuven who were celebrating the next goal after the half time break.
A shot from distance bounced through several pairs of legs to Mario Gonzalez. When the Spaniard felt a slight tap from McKenzie, he fell over like a sack of potatoes. The referee ignored the theatrics but VAR calls him over to the screen. After quite some time, a penalty was awarded and the American was booked. Þorsteinsson subsequently scored from the spot.
Genk did fight back however and were rewarded with the game winner in the 87th minute. Tresor took the free kick at the top of the D and managed to lift it over the wall and under the cross bar, to the delight of a packed Cegeka Arena.
McKenzie will meet up with Fossey when the two Yanks do battle as Genk travels to Liege next weekend.
Notes
Sam Vines was on the game day roster but never left the bench as Royal Antwerp left it very late to secure a 2-0 victory over relegation threatened Zulte-Waregem. Toby Alderweireld found the back of the net in the 85th and 89th minute. Already guaranteed a top four finish, the Great Old are now looking for points as they prepare for the championship play-off group with just 3 games remaining.
Jorge Hernandez was not on the team sheet when Mechelen hosted Club Brugge.
