BeerschotKRC Genk
Jupiler Pro League – matchday 4 – 17/08/24 – 16:01
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7′
Ewan Henderson
7′
Ewan Henderson
1 – 0
15′
Jarne Steuckers
1 – 1
Jarne Steuckers
15′
30′
Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare
1 – 2
Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare
30′
40′
Carlos Cuesta
1 – 3
Carlos Cuesta
40′
61′
Simon Michez
61′
Simon Michez
2 – 3
64′
Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare
2 – 4
Toluwalase Emmanuel Arokodare
64′
87′
Derrick Tshimanga
87′
Derrick Tshimanga
3 – 4
After the spectacular turnaround against Club Brugge last weekend, KRC Genk itself could hardly prevent a similar stunt from Beerschot. With one man down, things got really hot for the Limburgers, but Beerschot remained stuck at 3-4 after a missed penalty.
Beerschot – Racing Genk in a nutshell:
The opponent is reduced to ten and they are allowed to take a penalty to make it 3-4. Beerschot gets a golden opportunity to ensure a crazy final quarter, but Cagro misses it. He slams the penalty against the post. The connecting goal eventually comes, but too late.
Many standouts in a dazzling match, but football is all about goals and Tolu stood out. He put Genk ahead in the first half and in the second half with his second he provided just enough margin to take the three points back to Limburg.
For Racing Genk it is already the third game in a row that it is behind first. Against OH Leuven it could not make up for it. Last week against Club Brugge and today against Beerschot it succeeded.
Genk puts things in order after dream start for Beerschot
Continuing the positive vibes after the spectacular comeback against Club Brugge vs. turning the tide after a 0 out of 6. KRC Genk and Beerschot started their mutual duel with a completely different feeling.
After just five minutes, the home fans were also in a state of flux. First there was relief when Tolu failed to punish a blunder by Matijas and then immediately there was wild joy when Henderson opened the scoring after a great move by Michez.
Beerschot could not enjoy that dream start for long. After fifteen minutes, the ball went to the spot for Genk after Sanusi handled the ball. Just like last week against Club Brugge, Steuckers neatly converted the penalty: 1-1.
On the half hour Genk completely put things in order with a rehearsed number on a corner kick. Steuckers also came up with an excellent assist after his penalty goal and Tolu showed his tor instinct.
Before half-time, Genk extended their lead, again on a set piece. El Khannouss painted a free kick onto Cuesta’s head, leaving Matijas with no chance.
Despite the double setback, Beerschot continued to take their chances in an exciting first half. Just before half-time, Van Crombrugge had to intervene strongly twice on shots from Matthys and Verlinden.
Newlywed dad Cuesta made it 1-3.
Beerschot left empty-handed after thrilling finale
On the hour, Beerschot fought their way back into the game with the connecting goal. Just like with the opening goal, there was a scary moment beforehand when Sor almost made it 1-4. In the transition, Verlinden sent Michez deep and he finished it off nicely.
The similarity with the opening goal continued, as Genk once again quickly nipped the Antwerp party in the bud. Sor easily put Tshimanga in the wind and at the far post Tolu slid his second of the afternoon into the goal.
Fifteen minutes before the end, Beerschot’s hopes flared up again. After a header by Weymans against the post, Kosiah was taken down by Sadick: red for the defender and penalty for Beerschot. Cagro missed the chance, his penalty hit the post.
In the final phase of regular playing time, the equalizer finally came. Tshimanga put Cuesta in the wind and also gave Van Crombrugge the cold shoulder.
It made for a thrilling finale in which Matijas kept Beerschot in the running for a point with two great saves, but Genk survived and took 6 out of 6. Beerschot remains behind with 1 out of 12.
Tshimanga’s connecting goal came too late for Beerschot.
Kuyt: “If this is our standard, we’ll be fine”
- Tolu Arokodare (Racing Genk): “It was a difficult match from the start. We did come back well after that early goal against. It was a match that could have gone either way, but in the end we came out on top. The end was nerve-wracking, every mistake we made could have been punished. We fought hard until the end to secure the victory.”
- Ryan Sanusi (Beerschot): “This is a bit of a disappointment. After last week, we had something to make up for, especially in terms of effort and mentality. We started the match very well and then I apparently made a handball. I have to watch the footage again, but I don’t think I did much. All in all, we performed very well in terms of field play, and the fighting spirit was good. Unfortunately, we are here again with zero points. We did show a lot of good things, but we failed to reward ourselves.”
- Thorsten Fink (coach Racing Genk): “In the beginning we weren’t in the game, but then we came back well. We gave away too many chances, although Beerschot also played very well. We had a hard time with it, there is a lot of video material to analyse in the coming week. In the end we won here, but I didn’t expect it to be such a difficult game.”
- Dirk Kuyt (Beerschot coach): “The team responded as I had hoped. They fought from the first to the last minute and made it a real match. If you score three goals at home against Genk, you expect at least a point and actually a win. The team kept fighting and the crowd kept supporting us. I can only be super proud of the players and the crowd. If this is our standard, then everything will turn out fine. In the short term, this is very sour. Sometimes you also need a bit of luck.”
End
A thrilling match at Het Kiel is won by Racing Genk. Michez brought Beerschot back into the match on the hour mark, but Tolu quickly restored order for Genk. Fifteen minutes before the end, Cagro missed the chance to score another equaliser with a penalty miss. Tshimanga managed to score in the final phase, but a ten-man Genk held out in the exciting final minutes.
Yellow El Ouahdi
El Ouahdi is still facing yellow. It is sink or swim for the visitors, but for now the Genk ship remains afloat.
Matijas prevents decision
Genk can still break out, but miss the chance to decide the match. Both substitute Oh and El Ouahdi cannot get the ball past Matijas. Excellent work by the goalkeeper.
It is now a matter of survival for Genk and the visitors will have to do that for a while. There will be more than seven minutes of added time.
There will be 7 minutes of added time.
It’s going to be tough for Genk, because Beerschot smells its chance. After a scramble in front of goal, the ball lands in the hands of Van Crombrugge.
Tshimanga makes it exciting again!
Can it still be done for Beerschot? Tshimanga brings the tension back into the match. He can push through in the sixteen, gives Cuesta a look with a feint and then finishes beautifully.
Tshimanga still makes the connecting goal! What else can be done?
At Beerschot, Wright-Phillips is dropped into the battle. Can he make the difference?
Fink has to make adjustments and takes Hrosovsky and Steuckers to the side. Heynen and Kongolo have to keep Genk upright in the final phase.
