Both Mark McKenzie and Griffin Yow were credited with assists for their teams but neither side managed to pick up three points in Pro League action.
Genk 2 – 2 Gent
Mark McKenzie was in the heart of the Smurfs defense on Sunday afternoon when they hosted the high flying Buffaloes of Gent. The Limburgers fought back from a goal down to take the lead, only to see it disappear very deep in stoppage time.
Only a dozen minutes passed when Tarik Tissoudali put the visitors ahead when Malik Fofana picked him out inside the six yard box and he easily slotted it past the Genk keeper. Nine minutes later a free kick from 20 yards out found McKenzie in the box. The American tapped it into the path of Yir Sor and watched his Nigerian team mate drill it into the back of the net from 10 yards out.
Sor scored again just after the half and Genk held on to the lead until the 99th minute. A ball came into the box from the left to Omri Gandelman on the right, just inside the 18 yard box. The Israeli shot towards the far post and Tissoudali deflected it into the net for his brace and a Gent point.
Genk will travel to the coast midweek to take on Oostende in the Belgian Cup and then head to Eupen over the weekend for their next league game.
Westerlo 1 – 3 Anderlecht
Both Bryan Reynolds and Griffin Yow started for Westerlo but things didn’t go according to plan as Anderlecht put three past Sinan Bolat between the host’s posts before answering with a very late consolation goal from Jordan Bos. It was the Australian’s first strike for his new team since signing in the summer from Melbourne City. The American boys both put in 90 minute shifts.
It only took Anderlecht, who have picked up 16 out of a possible 18 points in their last six games, just 19 minutes to light up the score board. Anders Dreyer was the recipient of a Mario Stroeykens through ball and the Dane got on the end of it and fired past the Mauves keeper from just inside the 18 yard box. It was his ninth goal of the season.
Westerlo held their own for the rest of first half and Yow even had a decent shot that was blocked by a defender before it could reach the goal. He was unlucky again in first half stoppage time but his right footed shot flew just wide of the target.
In the 67th minute, Anderlecht doubled the lead when another Dane, Thomas Delaney found the back of the net with the eventual game winner. Kaspar Dolberg picked up the ball and dribbled around a pair of defenders before easily slotting the ball into the back of the net to complete a Danish hat trick.
Westerlo’s only strike came in the 90th minute when Yow sent a ball in from the right flank and watched Bos head it just inside the near post from six yards out.
The loss leaves the Yanks and their team just a point out of last place. They’ll hope to get back to winning ways on Friday night when they visit last place Kortrijk.
Eupen 1 – 1 Kortrijk
Gabriel Slonina was between the sticks when Eupen hosted last place Kortrijk at the Kehrweg Stadium on Saturay evening. The American was seconds from keeping his first clean sheet since late October, that was, until Tom Vandenberghe spoiled the celebrations and claimed a point for KVK. The American made four saves before the fifth ball found the back of the net. Alex Mighten played 16 minutes off the bench for the visitors.
Half way through the second half Victor Palsson tucked the ball away from six yards out after Alfreo Finnbogason hit the post and it fell kindly for the Icelander.
The heart breaker came in the 93rd minute when the Kerels won a free kick at the top of the box. Vandenberghe, who also happens to be the goal keeper, came down the field and ended up tucking the ball into the back of the net from close range.
Dropping the two points late leaves the Pandas in 13th place, which is in the relegation play-off group with the regular season just past the half way point. They’ll take on Mark McKenzie and Genk on Sunday afternoon, hoping to climb out of the danger zone.
Mechelen 0 – 2 Sint-Truiden
After three consecutive draws, the Canaries got back to winning ways with a two-nil road victory over KV Mechelen on Sunday afternoon. Kahveh Zahiroleslam got the nod and put in a 77 minute shift, picking up a yellow card just before the intermission.
Both goals came during the first half of the game with Aboubakary Koita striking a few minutes after the kick off and Ryo Ito doing the same minutes before the intermission.
Now in eighth place and just a game out of a top play-off group spot, STVV will host third place Gent over the weekend.
Notes
Still not back from his long term injury, Sam Vines missed Royal Antwerp’s 1-0 win at home against Leuven. The victory keeps them in fourth place and 11 points from league leaders, USG. Next up they’ll host Charleroi on Wednesday night in Belgian Cup action before returning to league action on Saturday afternoon against Cercle Brugge.
Marlon Fossey didn’t take part in Standard Liege’s road loss at the hands of Club Brugge. The Flemish side came away 2-0 winners at Jan Breydel Stadium. Les Rouches will be in action again on Thursday night in Belgian Cup action when they travel to Brussels to take on Anderlecht. Over the weekend they’ll return to league action with another trip to Brussels to again face Anderlecht.
