Marlon Fossey and Standard drastically hurt their chances of a top six spot but on a positive note, Kayden Pierce was promoted to Genk’s first team bench over the weekend.
Standard Liege 0 – 2 Anderlecht
Marlon Fossey went the distance for les Rouches when Brussels boys, Anderlecht came to town over the weekend. Torgan Hazard and Nilson Angulo both scored after the intermission to deny the Walloon side any points in front of their own fans.
With just two games left to the regular season, the inability to pick up any points has all but condemned Standard from competing for the Belgian title when the play-offs get underway.
After a first half deadlock, where both teams pushed for a net-bender, it took until the second half before the scorekeeper had to get to work. It was Hazard, the younger brother of Eden who was somewhat invisible in the first half but who cared when in the 63rd minute he curled his shot past the Standard keeper from the edge of the box.
Two minutes from full time, the 21-year-old Ecuadorian, Angulo, who came on just two minutes earlier, was celebrating his first goal for les Mauves.
The three points for Anderlecht put them in fourth place and a guarantee that they will be going for the title. Standard, on the other hand, are in seventh place on 38 points, behind sixth place Gent on 42. They’ll have to beat third place USG and then Antwerp in the last game of the season if they hope to climb to the top group. Other teams will have to help them as well.
Leuven 0 – 0 Westerlo
Both Griffin Yow and Bryan Reynolds were in Westerlo’s starting line-up but neither could influence the game as the Gamecocks picked up just a point on the road on Sunday evening.
Westerlo has been fighting to stay out of the relegation group but dropping two points really hurt their cause as they now sit on 31 points and in the dreaded 13th spot. With two games to go however, they can reverse their fortunes because the three teams ahead of them are all on 32 points so with another six on offer, anything can happen.
The American boys will have their hands full over the weekend when Anderlecht comes to town. Although they are already in the top group, points are important to take into the play-offs for all teams as they will have their total points cut in half and not start with none. After that, they should have an easier time against last place Beerschot.
Notes
Kayden Pierre was on the bench for Genk when they travelled to Charleroi and came away with a point after a 1-1 draw. This was the former KC man’s second time on the bench as he looks set to make his Pro League debut in the near future. Next up for top of the league Genk is a trip to Dender.
Recently back from a hamstring injury, Kahveh Zahiroleslam started on the bench and stayed there for the duration as his services were not required with Sint-Truiden beating up on Kortrijk, 4 goals to 2. Next up for the Canaries is a visit from Beerschot.
Devon De Corte got to play six minutes as the Anderlecht Futures hosted the Standard Liege youngsters and lost by a 4-2 score line. Next up for them will be a visit from Seraing.
