Mark McKenzie
photo: Imago / Johan Eyckens

Belgian Play-Off Recap: End of Title Hopes for McKenzie, Genk After Club Brugge Slip Up

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Genk 0 – 3 Club Brugge

It wasn’t a very good Sunday afternoon for Mark McKenzie and his Genk side as they just could not reply to any of the three goals that Club Brugge put by them at Cegeka Arena. Club, who are in a three way title race with Anderlecht and Union St Gilloise made the league more interesting with their win and Anderlecht’s draw versus Cercle. Genk, with back-to-back losses are realistically out of contention for title.

It was a close first half, that was until the 38th minute Kyriana Sabbe’s shot from distance and a tight angle that just made it inside the far post. Sabbe then turned provider half way through the second half when he set up Hugo Vetlesen. It was only the Norwegian’s third strike of the season.

Although the game was already over, the visitors added another one a few minutes later. This time it was Thiago who netted the 18th of the season.

Genk will head to Brugge on the weekend but this time they’ll take on Cercle.

Standard Liege 1 – 1 Sint-Truiden

It was a stalemate at the Sclessin on Saturday evening when Sint Truiden came to town to take on Standard in their bid to make it into Europe next season. Kahveh Zahiroleslam started for the Canaries and put in a 67 minute shift, while Marlon Fossey made the team sheet after recovering from his injury. He came off the bench in the 77th minute.

Thirteen minutes into the game Ryoya Ogawa’s left footed shot was saved but the second one, left footed again, from the center of the box went right down the middle and rippled the net. The lead lasted until half way through the second half. From a corner kick delivered into the box by Hayao Kawabe, Jonathan Panzo nodded it into the net from close range.

With four games left, les Rouches are in fifth place on 22 points while the Canaries are in third on 28. STVV will head to Westerlo on Friday night, while Standard head to Leuven.

Eupen 1 – 2 Charleroi

See Michael Adubato’s Press Box Report

Notes

Westerlo are still winless in the play-offs, losing to Gent by a score of 3-2 in Gent. Bryan Reynolds, who came off with a hamstring strain last weekend, did not make the team sheet. Griffin Yow started on the bench but did get to play for 26 minutes. They’ll look for their first win when they welcome STVV to Het Kuipje over the weekend.

author

Michael Adubato

The old man of Yanks-Abroad, having been around since the very beginning in 2004, Known as the resident Belgian expert since that’s where he has lived for a couple of decades. Over the years he has interviewed Nats such as Kasey Keller, Brian McBride, Oguchi Onyewu, Jozy Altidore and Tim Weah, to name a few. When not working the day job, he can often be found in stadiums around Europe, watching games from the top flight to the lower leagues. To prove that he is not just a pretty face, Mike received a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Maryland and a Masters from the University of Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner! On a non-soccer note, Adubato has just released a book of poetry from his travels, Missing the Exit, published by Broken Keys Publishing in Ottawa, Canada. So that must make him the YA poet laureate! You can grab your copy on Amazon.com, order online and pick it up and Barnes & Noble or get an e-copy at various outlets.

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