With four of the six playoff games done and dusted in both the Championship and European groups, Mark McKenzie and Genk blew the chance to put pressure on the group leaders after a Sam Vines-less Royal Antwerp were beaten by Club Brugge.
Genk 1 – 1 Union St Gilloise
Mark McKenzie scored his third playoff goal in four games but it was not enough as the early lead was lost just before the intermission, giving both of these title chasing teams a single point.
The game’s first goal came from a Genk free kick that was about 35 yards from goal. Mike Tresor sent it into the 18 yard box and as the defensive line stood there ball watching, McKenzie sprang forward and nodded it into the back of the net from about six yards out. The ball hit the back of the net in the 13th minute.
Twenty-five minutes later however, Union got one back after Simon Adingra played the ball near the edge of the box for Victor Boniface to run onto. As he entered the box with the ball at his feet, the Nigerian put a move on McKenzie, then fired it just inside the near post, past netminder Maarten Vandevoordt.
The sharing of points leaves USG in second place, with Genk in third, just three points behind. The Smurfs have not given up their championship ambitions and will be at it again, looking for all the points this weekend when they travel to take on Club Brugge.
Notes
Bryan Reynolds and Griffin Yow‘s Westerlo hosted Marlon Fossey‘s Standard Liege on Saturday evening, however none were in the starting line-up. The AS Roma loanee came off the bench in the 83rd minute, while young Yow didn’t get onto the field until the 89th minute. Fossey on the other hand, didn’t even make the bench.
Westerlo won this one 3-0, leaving them equal on points with Standard. Neither team however have a chance of winning top of the group and making it into a European spot.
After taking charge of first place last week, Royal Antwerp, still without Sam Vines, suffered a shock defeat against Club Brugge. The defending champions, although destined to finish last in the group of four, still came away with the 2-0 victory.
Antwerp, although still in the top spot, are on 45 points along with USG. They do however have a superior goal difference. They will look to open up a lead when they host the Brussels based team on Sunday evening.
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