Justin Che got his first taste of Belgian soccer over the weekend and passed the test as his new side Patro Eisden escaped with a result in a closely fought contest.
Patro Eisden 1 – 0 Genk II
There was an interesting clash in the Challenger League (second division) over the weekend as former Sporting KC man Keyden Pierre and his Genk reserves traveled a short distance to take on Patro Eisden where American defender Justin Che made his Belgian debut after Brondby loaned out the right back.
Upon signing the American on deadline day, Patro’s head coach said that Che is a wing-back with power and that his good mentality will fit in our dressing room. The Texan started at the right back position and went the 90 minutes in the victory.
Simon Bammens scored the only goal of the game in the 49th minute. Both American defenders put in good performances in a tightly contested game where both teams had chances, four on target for the hosts and five for the visitors.
Patro, who are currently in fourth, a promotion play-off shot at making it to the Pro League, will have a short break due to their next game against Deinze being canceled. They’ll have to wait an extra week before getting back on the field against RAAL La Louviere, who are just two points ahead of them.
Genk II, now in last place since Deinze has gone bankrupt, will welcome 10th-place Eupen.
Westerlo 4 – 2 Standard Liege
This was a game of three Yanks, with Bryan Reynolds and Griffin Yow starting for the hosts, and Marlon Fossey for les Rouches.
The Gamecocks were in desperate need of a win, as they were still sitting in the relegation play-off group. Standard has had a decent year so far, picking up 10 out of a possible 12 points. Another three points over the weekend would have put them up into sixth place and the championship play-off group since Genk dropped two points.
Standard found themselves in front just ten minutes after Andi Zeqiri picked out Eckert Ayensa and the German striker slotted it into the back of the Westerlo net. The lead was short-lived however because Yow latched onto the ball and sent it to Isa Sakamoto who slipped the ball past an acrobatic though unsuccessful Gavin Bazuna.
Matija Frijan netted just past the half-hour mark for the eighth time this season to give Westerlo the lead that they took into the locker room at the intermission. And when the second half started, it was business as usual – two more goals.
The visitors did get one back in stoppage time from substitute Andreas Hountondji in the 93rd minute but as the saying goes, it was too little, too late.
Westerlo’s three points moved them out of the relegation zone and are one of three teams currently on 29 points. They are in 10th place while Standard stays in seventh. Next up for both teams are Cercle Brugge and Genk respectively.
Notes
Kahveh Zahiroleslam is still out of action due to injury, so he missed out on Sint Truiden’s 2-1 defeat at the hands of league newcomers Dender. They remain in the relegation zone, six points adrift from safety. Next up will be a tough contest against Club Brugge, which currently holds second place behind Genk.
Devon De Corte played the last half hour of the Anderlecht Futures derby against Molenbeek on Saturday night. American owner, John Textor’s Molenbeek is looking to make an immediate return to the top flight and took another step in that direction with a 1-0 win. The Anderlecht youngsters are currently in 12th place and will go up against Club Brugge’s reserves this coming weekend.
