It was an exciting last week of Belgian Pro League games with a few upsets along the way. Each team now knows their fate and who they will be going up against as they look to win the league, win a place in Europe next season or try to avoid relegation.
Westerlo 1 – 1 Genk
There were three Yanks on the field when Genk headed west to take on Westerlo on Sunday afternoon in the final game of the season. Mark McKenzie was at the heart of the Smurfs’ defense, while Griffin Yow was on Westerlo’s right wing, just ahead of Bryan Reynolds at the right back position. The three Americans played the entirety of the game, which could not be said for Genk striker Christopher Bonsu Baah, who was shown a straight red card in the 71st minute.
A share of the points would have suited both teams but with the Ghanaian’s red card, the hosts took advantage of their man advantage eight minutes later. But the goal had more to do with poor defending because Joris Kayembe, gifted the ball right to second half sub Ravil Tagir in the final third. The Turk couldn’t miss from close range. The goal meant that as it stood, with both Cercle Brugge and Gent winning their games, McKenzie and company dropped out of the Championship group.
With the clock ticking, captain Bryan Heynen took charge of the game and when Bilal El Khannouss laid the ball off for the Belgian in the box, he blasted it past Sinan Bolat with just four minutes left on the clock.
The point left Genk on 47, the same as Gent but the Limburgers with a superior goal difference slipped into the sixth and final top playoff spot. Westerlo, meanwhile, finished on 29 points, the same as Leuven and Charleroi but again, with a better goal difference.
Genk will go up against the likes of USG, Anderlecht, Antwerp, and both Brugge teams. Meanwhile the boys from Westerlo will face Gent, Mechelen, Sint Truiden, Standard Liege and Leuven in the second playoff group.
Standard Liege 4 – 0 Eupen
Gabriel Slonina and the Pandas ended the regular season in the same fashion as most of their games ended – in a loss. In fact Eupen only tasted victory on seven occasions over the 30 game season. And it was the American shot stopper between the sticks when Standard Liege hosted them on Saturday evening. For les Rouches, Marlon Fossey made the bench after coming back from injury, and made it onto the field in the 58th minute, replacing Isaac Price.
It was a more important game for Eupen than their hosts, as Standard had already cemented their place in the second playoff group, with no chance of moving to either of the other groups. For Slonina’s team however, a victory could have taken them out of the relegation group. This was not to be and come the playoffs, they will be fighting for their Pro League lives.
The first goal came after just nine minutes when Wilfried Kanga fired into the back of the net from the middle of the 18 yard box. It however took another half hour before they doubled their lead from William Balikwisha’s blast from the right side fo the box.
Although the game was already out of reach for the visitors, an 82nd minute goal by Kelvin Yeboah made sure. The icing on the cake was a little help from the opposition when Regan Charles-Cook put the ball into the back of his own net.
The Pandas will fight it out with Charleroi, Molenbeek and Kortrijk.
Sint-Truiden 0 – 0 Club Brugge
See Michael Adubato’s Press Box Report
Notes
Jamath Shoffner‘s Oostende took on the Genk Reserves on Saturday evening and and were on the wrong end of a 3-1 defeat on the road. The Seasiders are still holding onto 14th place, just two points outside of the relegation places with four big games still to come before the season ends.
On Sunday afternoon they’ll make the long trip to Seraing, along the French and Luxembourg borders. This will be their biggest game that may well determine their fate for next season as is the team in 15th place. Three points would put some daylight between them but on the other hand, a loss will almost surely see them competing in the third division come August.
