Reynolds, Fossey and Zahiroleslam all start for their respective sides, while McKenzie and Yow start on the bench in weekend Pro League action.
Westerlo 4 – 3 Union St Gilloise
Just three games into the Pro League season, Westerlo are doing what they had trouble doing last year – scoring goals, holding onto a lead and winning games. They did just that on Saturday evening when they welcomed last year’s runner-ups, USG to Het Kuipje.
Bryan Reynolds was in his usual right back spot and other than defending, contributed to the cause in what turned out to be the winning goal scored early in the second half. Griffin Yow has returned to the team and started on the bench although he did make it onto the field in the 65th minute.
The Gamecocks, off to their best start in the club’s history, didn’t start the game off very well because after just five minutes Kevin Rodriguez and his USG team mates were celebrating their early lead. It was a wake-up call however and before 10 more minutes came off the clock, it was all square. The hosts were awarded a free kick on the edge of the box and Dogucan Haspolat curled the shot over the wall and into the inside netting at the near post.
Adedire Mebude, a former Manchester City youth, then caught the Unionist defense napping on a throw-in and easily got in front of goal and put it away for his first Westerlo goal. In the 31st minute the hosts were having their way in front of goal. Mebude got around his defender and got into the 18 yard box, picking out Nicolas Madsen. The Dane’s blast was blocked by defender Koki Mashida but it only got as far as Allahyar Sayyadmanesh who tucked it away before the keeper could get across his goal line.
After the intermission, Reynolds recorded his first goal of the season and only his third overall for Westerlo. Sayyadmanesh spotted his American colleagues run and as he got into the box, he played a one-two with Mebude and outsmarts the USG keeper with a diagonal ball that rippled the net.
The game should have been all but over but USG, who had last season’s best regular season record, refused to roll over and fought back. Mohammed Fuseini’s 71st minute goal reduced the lead to just two and when Canadian striker Promise David found himself all alone and headed the ball home, former Belgian international Timmy Simons had to conduct his defense from the sidelines for the last few minutes to hold onto the victory. In the end it was job done.
On Sunday evening, the only undefeated team in the Pro League will take on Gent over in East Flanders.
Standard Liege 0 – 0 Mechelen
Marlon Fossey and les Rouches got the weekend underway on Friday night as they hosted KV Mechelen at the Stade Maurice Defrasne. The American went the distance in the right back position and although he helped the defense keep a clean sheet, he was unable to influence the game at the other end. Although the Kakkers dominated possession, Standard got off 14 shots as opposed to the opponent’s six. In the end nothing crossed either goal line.
Fossey spoke to the media after the game and said, “We have a clean sheet and we can be happy about that. We were defensively on point in every game. But offensively we still have work to do. We are working with young players and that is why we have to be patient. In the meantime, we are three games further and we have not lost yet.”
After three games, les Rouches have kept three clean sheets but have only managed to score one goal. They’ll look to do better when they travel west to take on Kortrijk. The Canaries gave up four goals to newly promoted Dender over the weekend.
Antwerp 6 – 1 Sint-Truiden
Kahveh Zahiroleslam was in the starting line-up for the Canaries when they made the Sunday afternoon trip up to Antwerp. They should have called in sick because the Great Old dismantled the Limburgers, handing them their third loss in as many games this season.
The hosts were up two goals to none at half time but STVV did have a go at fighting back and got one back in the 54th minute that was Japanese made. Ryoya Ogawa was picked out by Ryotaro Ito and the Tokyo native scored from the left side of the box with his left foot. It all went downhill from there as Jacob Ondrejka scored for the hosts a minute later, regaining the two goal cushion and taking over the game.
The Swede scored twice more to earn the game ball with his hat trick. The goals came in the 55th, 65th and 81st minute. Anthony Valencia contributed another to make the loss an embarrassing for the Canaries who are 0-3 but worse than that, they have given up 11 goals, while only scoring three. It was interesting to note that of the starting XI, five were Belgian, five were Japanese and the 11th our American.
Sint-Truiden will look to stop the bleeding over the weekend when they host newcomers Dender. Although just promoted, the team put four past Kortrijk in their most recent game and have seven out of nine points thus far.
Notes
Mark McKenzie was on the bench when Genk hosted Club Brugge, which could indicate that the team is trying to keep him injury free for an upcoming transfer. He did however come onto the field in the 101st minute. The game ended in favor of the Smurfs as they got the better of the Belgian champions with a 94th minute winner.
Up next will be a trip to Antwerp to take on the other newly promoted side, Beerschot, who are yet to win a game.
