It was an interesting weekend in Belgium as Griffin Yow played a very impressive game, as did Mark McKenzie and Genk where they beat the league leaders in Anderlecht.
Westerlo 3 – 3 Standard Liege
It was a good game for the neutral fans as they got to witness the ball hitting the back of the net on a half dozen occasions at Het Kuipje. Bryan Reynolds went the distance in his defensive position, while Griffin Yow came off in the 70th minute but not before he converted a second half penalty. For Standard Liege, Marlon Fossey is still out after picking up an injury earlier this month.
After Wilfried Kanga’s 22nd minute goal, the momentum changed and the hosts scored three unanswered goals. The first was from Matija Frigan, who put his team on level terms seven minutes after les Rouches had taken the lead. And this was where the game was left at the intermission.
Just four minutes after the restart however, young Mr. Yow found Lucas Stassin loitering around the goal, gave him the pass and watched the Belgian striker score from close range. Around 10 minutes later Stassin returned the favor when he drew a foul in the 18 yard box. Yow was given the ball and the 21-year-old didn’t miss.
All was well for Westerlo until Steven Alzate scored in the 78th minute. It was only the London-born Colombian’s second goal of the season. Thinking they had done enough to secure the three points, things went against them with Konstantinos Laffis’ 94th minute net-bender.
The American duo will be in action again on Tuesday night when they host Leuven.
Genk 2 – 1 Anderlecht
Mark McKenzie was, of course, in the starting XI when the Smurfs hosted group leaders Anderlecht at Cegeka Arena and left it late to steal a goal and a victory over the league leaders.
The hosts took the lead after 14 minutes in this Championship Play-Off Group that has to be one of the most exciting and controversial in recent memory. For Genk however it was more straight forward when Zakaria El Ouahdi received a pass coming down field on the top right side of the box. He spotted Emmanuel Arokodare’s run into the box and picked out the Nigerian who held off his marker and put the ball just wide of the keeper from eight yards out.
Genk dominated the first half and should have added to their goal tally on a couple of occasions but at the half the score remained 1-0. The regret of not taking one of their first half chances was realized in the 75th minute. Anders Dreyer struck a wonder goal to get Anderlecht on level terms. The Dane curled a cracker between two defenders and just inside the far post.
Les Mauves did not want to give up hope of getting the much needed three points to open the gap over USG, who dropped points over the weekend but just when things were going well, it all fell apart. Killian Sardella’s handball in the box gifted the Smurfs a penalty and Andi Zeqiri converted to give his team a very big win.
With Anderlecht losing and then USG doing the same against Club Brugge, Club have moved to within two points of the top spot while the Unionists have fallen to third. Genk is only a point behind them. So the six team group now looks like just a four horse race, with Anderlecht on 38 points, Club on 36, USG on 35 and Genk on 34.
There will be midweek Pro League action and on Wednesday night McKenzie and his team will travel west to take on a rejuvenated Club Brugge. Then on Sunday evening, Club will head to Genk.
Notes
An early goal in Charleroi was all it took for the Zebras to condemn Gabriel Slonina and Eupen to back-to-back defeats in the Relegation Play-Off Group. The 1-0 score keeps the Pandas adrift and almost guaranteed relegation from the Pro League. Regardless, they’ll be at it again on Friday night when they welcome Charleroi to their house.
Sint Truiden’s chances of getting a European play-off spot took a big blow when they couldn’t find the back of the net against OH Leuven. Kahveh Zahiroleslam started on the bench for the Canaries, making it onto the field in the 72nd minute. The 1-0 loss leaves STVV in third place as they look forward to their next game which will be against the group leaders, Gent.
And last but not least, Jamath Shoffner can consider his short season at the helm of KV Oostende as “job done” as he guided the Seasiders to a 1-0 victory over the Standard Liege Reserves and finishing four points out of the relegation places on the last day of the season. The American coach will look to strengthen his team and head into the new Challenger Pro League season with promotion as the team’s goal.
