It was a positive weekend in Belgium as every Yank who played earned at least a point in Pro League action, with Marlon Fossey netting his first goal of the season in a highlight performance.
Cercle Brugge 1 – 1 Standard Liege
Les Rouches, who started the year off last week with a shock defeat at the hands of last place Kortrijk were looking to steady the ship on Friday night when they travelled to West Flanders to take on the city’s second team, Cercle.
Marlon Fossey was in the starting line-up and even found the back of the net late in the second half. He played the full 90 minutes.
Standard, who just a couple of months ago, were in contention for a top six championship play-off spot, have been struggling and have all but seen those dreams fade away.
To be honest, it was a game where you wished that you stayed home or even watched an old move on television because all the fans were treated to was lackadaisical commitment, errant passes and a bit of fighting. The game only came alive in the last 15 minutes.
Fossey’s first goal of the season came in the 79th minute from a corner kick.Wilfried Kanga sent the ball into the box and his American colleague out-jumped everyone, getting his head to the ball and forcing it just below the crossbar for the lead.
But the Walloons couldn’t hold on for the remainder of the game.As a matter of fact, it was only nine minutes later when Thibo Somers also used his head and put the ball into the back of the net for the equalizer.
With only one point to show for their night’s work, les Rouches will hope to do better on Wednesday night when they host Royal Antwerp.
Sint-Truiden 1 – 1 Genk
In this battle of the Yanks, both Mark McKenzie started for Genk and Kahveh Zahiroleslam, back from injury, for Sint-Truiden. Both Yanks went the distance and the former Ivy Leaguer picked up one of many yellow cards that the referee brandished on the night at the Stayen in the Battle of Limburg.
In fact, the game was all about cards, especially the two red ones picked up by Genk’s Gerardo Arteaga and Bryan Heynen late in the second half.
The visitors got off to a quick start, when in the first minute, McKenzie played a long ball up the left wing to Alieu Fadera, who flew down the field and into the 18 yard box before laying it off for Yira Sor who had a simple tap in.
Two minutes later, Sor was celebrating his second of the game but they were short lived as the offside flag went up immediately and rightly so.
Half way through the first half, Zahiroleslam went at goal on his own but his fellow American got in the way before he could get a decent shot off, deflecting it for a corner kick that came to nothing.
Five minutes into first half stoppage time it looked like the Canaries were going to get a shot from the penalty spot from Rihoto Yamamoto hit the deck after a challenge from Fadera. The ref looked the other way and VAR didn’t intervene so it was 1-0 at the intermission.
In the 72nd minute the hosts were given a penalty but Jarne Steuckers spot kick wasn’t a very good one and keeper Maarten Vandevoordt parried it away.
With five minutes left on the clock, Gerardo Arteaga was shown a straight red card after he grabbed Zahiroleslam by the throat. Just to be sure, VAR called the referee to the monitor and after having a look, he was happy with his red card decision.
STVV took advantage of the man-advantage and five minutes later Ryo Ito was celebrating his third goal of the season. Bryan Heynen then picked up his second yellow card six minuters later but it came too late for the hosts to take advantage of a two man advantage, so could only share the points.
Sixth place Genk will hope to get back to winning ways when they travel to lowly OH Leuven on Wednesday evening, while Sint-Truiden hosts fourth place Gent.
Eupen 1 – 0 Antwerp
Things seem to be changing for the better for Gabriel Slonina and Eupen as they came away with back to back victories and for the American keeper, back to back clean sheets.
The defending Belgian champions had the best of the game, keeping 66% of possession and looked the more likely to score but sent 10 of their shots wide of the target. Slonina was only called upon to make two saves.
The game’s only goal came at the half hour mark but almost wasn’t given. Brandon Baiye was in the right place at the right time but when he put the ball past Jean Butez from close range, the referee saw a foul that wasn’t. The man in the middle was called over to the screen by VAR and changed his mind, awarding the goal.
The win has taken Eupen out of the relegation play-off group but only by goal difference. They will have a good chance to climb even higher when they face Charleroi midweek. The Zebras are on the same 21 points as the Pandas.
Gent 2 – 2 Westerlo
Both Bryan Reynolds and Griffin Yow started for Westrlo when they travelled to Gent, with the defender going the distance and the winger coming off in the 89th minute.
Westerlo took the lead in the 17th minute but the hosts fought back and a minute before the intermission, it was all tied up thanks to Omri Gandelman. This was the Israeli’s first goal of the season.
After a late go-ahead goal, by Westerlo, in the 87th minute, it was Gandelman who ruined the party for the visitors when he struck again in the 97th minute.
Now in 11th place, the Yanks will host Cercle Brugge on Wednesday night.