Number 2 Racing Genk had to be content with a draw against Waasland-Beveren. Top scorer Onuachu opened the score well, but sniper Koita also found the goal. The retiring Joakim Maehle stayed on the bench at Genk for 90 minutes.
Racing Genk – Waasland-Beveren in a nutshell:
- Key moment: In the 94th minute, Ito has the winning goal at the foot, but the Japanese from Racing Genk sees his place ball smack against the cross.
- Man of the match: Aleksandar Vukotic played a hell of a match in the back at Waasland-Beveren. The Serbian was the exponent of the intransigence of the visitors.
- Remarkable: For Joakim Maehle it became a minor farewell at Genk. The Dane had indicated in advance that he was already thinking too much about Atalanta and stayed on the bench throughout the match.
View the goals from Genk – Waasland-Beveren (1-1)
Onuachu and Koita live up to their fame
It was the visitors from the Waasland who started the match best. Koita quickly fired a first warning shot, Genk goalkeeper Vukovic parried with his fists.
Racing Genk, with the retiring Maehle on the bench, slowly got going, only to strike mercilessly halfway through the first half. With a few quick taps, Onuachu was released in front of target, and the top shooter finished with a stifter over Jackers.
Genk pushed through immediately and was close to 2-0 when a shot from Bongonda hit the outside of the post. Waasland-Beveren had to gasp for a moment, but was able to limit the damage to one goal against.
Shortly before half-time it was again the inevitable Koita who set the course for Waasland-Beveren. His second shot of the game was still a catch for Vukovic, but the third was the right one. He impressively blasted a free kick against the ropes: 1-1.
Onuachu has pain in a sensitive area
Goal frame is in the way of Racing Genk
Waasland-Beveren took the good feeling of the equalizer into the second half and started strongly after the break. The best chance was for Sinani, who saw his place ball narrowly past the far post.
Racing Genk bit its teeth on the strong organization of Waasland-Beveren and it was difficult to create opportunities. Onuachu was deployed barely once in the second period. His header was parried by Jackers, Ito squandered the rebound.
Only in the final phase Waasland-Beveren got really hot in the back. First Lucumi aimed a free shot against the post, deep in injury time a nice place ball from Ito stranded against the intersection.
Thus it remained 1-1 and Genk misses the opportunity to sneak closer to Club. Waasland-Beveren takes another potentially important point in the battle for conservation.
Van den Brom: “Victory would not be deserved”
- Nicky Hayen (Waasland-Beveren): “The plan we had was very well executed by the group. We were able to keep the peace. Even after the 1-0, when we had a difficult moment, we did not run out of the organization too quickly, we continued. patient and we were eventually rewarded with a point. “
“We are 1-0 behind by a mistake and you still have to make a change before half-time. That is not nice, but at that moment it was necessary. With the introduction of Sinani, there was more footballing power in the team. and we managed the spaces between the lines a little better. We don’t create many opportunities in itself, but there were many opportunities to get out well.
“I have to say that I was a little afraid of fatigue beforehand, but I saw very little of that. So it’s good for the group, that they were able to do this today.”
- John van den Brom (Racing Genk): “I am disappointed because we could not bring what we have been able to bring for a long time, both in terms of game and result. I didn’t think we had the right to win this game, so I can live 1-1. But that is too little for us, with the ambitions we have. We can do better than what we showed this afternoon. Yet we still had quite a few chances to win, although that would not have been deserved. “
“Such a last game of the year is also the time to look back a bit further, and then you can be proud of what the boys have already achieved this season. When you see where we come from and where we are now. pride dominates. But that doesn’t take away from tonight’s little disappointment. “
“We could certainly have used Joakim Maehle, but he did not feel completely happy. Then it would not have been wise to bring him in, while you are still in the fight for victory.”
