After a true comeback against national champion Club Brugge, our boys went to Kiel with confidence. The Olympic stadium inspired coach Fink. With Bilal and Zaka, our two Olympic medal winners returned to the starting line-up. After a groin injury, Sor also started for the first time since March 10.
First half
“Next week will be a completely different match,” Fink looked into his crystal ball a week ago after the victory against Club Brugge. Before the match, our coach added another piece of wisdom. “Last week’s victory is worthless if we don’t build on it this week.” And so our boys were once again on their toes for the trip to Kiel. With 1 out of 9, the promoted team had estimated its return to the highest level differently. But in front of their home crowd, the team of former top striker Dirk Kuyt presented itself very positively with beautiful combination football and sharp on the counter. After just 7 minutes, the home team countered razor-sharp via the towering striker Keita. With a venomous pass, he served Henderson who put Van Crombrugge on the wrong foot. After last week, we know all the more that Genk always fights back. And that’s what happened in Antwerp. Sor took a swing at a loose ball and hit Sanusi’s arm in the 16. After a visit to the screen, referee Wim Smet pointed resolutely to the spot. A piece of cake for Jarne Steuckers who wrong-footed Matijas for the equalizer. A little later, Bilal showed his Olympic class with a wonderful ball deep to Steuckers. His cross ended up right between the approaching Tolu and Patje. Fifteen minutes later, our boys rolled out a rehearsed number on a corner kick. Steuckers was able to cross freely towards the far post where Tolu put us ahead. His third in as many matches. 10 minutes later, there was even a double lead on the scoreboard. El Khannouss painted the ball perfectly onto Cuesta’s head and he headed the 1-3 into the net. On the other side, a great save by Van Crombrugge was needed to go to the dressing room with a comfortable lead.
Second half
The second half would also be a pleasure to watch. Tolu was sent towards goal right away. He found his buddy Sor in front of goal who saw his shot blocked. Not 1-4, but 2-3. Beerschot quickly came out via Michez who from a sharp angle unstoppably fired the ball past Van Crombrugge into the roof of the goal. The rollercoaster continued in all directions at Kiel. Sor put Tshimanga in the wind and found Tolu at the far post who fired his second of the afternoon into the net. 2-4. Books over? Quite the opposite. Although we claimed the ball, we had to keep an eye out for the counterattacks from the home team. Weymans headed against the post. Keita tried to finish on the rebound, but then ended up in the sandwich between Van Crombrugge and Sadick. Smet ruled a penalty and Sadick a yellow. After a visit to the VAR screen, our occasional captain even got a red card shoved under his nose. Cagro had the chance to score from the spot, but decided to hit the post. It was up to our boys to defend the double lead with one man less in the last 20 minutes. Exactly what we wanted to avoid happened, a connecting goal in the final phase. Ex-Genkie Tshimanga brought the home team back into the game for a second time. It kept shaking until minute 98, but after a crazy afternoon at the Kiel we headed back to Limburg with 3 points in our pocket. Next weekend we have a day off. It gives Fink and his staff time to further sharpen the automatisms, offensive and defensive, for two weeks.
Thorsten Fink: “It’s been 11 years since we last managed to win at Beerschot. So this one is extra good. Also for the supporters who travelled with us. Everyone saw a good match from both teams today. In the beginning we had a bad start, but we immediately believed in it and were able to respond with a few goals as a result. In the second half it looked like a Hitchcock movie, especially with that red card. Defensively we occasionally dropped the ball. We will use the next two weeks to further sharpen the defensive principles. But for football this was good advertising.”
Line-up
Van Crombrugge, Sadick, Smets, Cuesta, Kayembe, El Ouahdi, Hrosovsky (’80 Heynen), El Khannouss (’69 Sattlberger), Sor (’69 Bonsu Baah), Steuckers (’80 Kongolo) and Tolu (’90 Oh).
Goals
‘7 1-0 Henderson
’15 1-1 Steuckers (penalty)
’30 1-2 Third
’40 1-3 Cuesta
’62 2-3 Games
’64 2-4 Third
’88 3-4 Tshimanga