Club NXT fought back from a two-goal deficit to secure a 2-2 draw against Jong Genk in a thrilling Belgian Pro League 2 encounter at the Den Dreef stadium in Leuven on Saturday afternoon, with substitute Lund Jensen heading home the equalizer in the 89th minute to spark wild celebrations among the home supporters.
The match, which kicked off at 2:00 PM local time (12:00 UTC), began with Jong Genk asserting early dominance through precise passing and intelligent movement in the final third. Their opener arrived in the 23rd minute when midfielder Noah Adusana-Yeboah latched onto a through ball from the left flank, cutting inside before firing a low drive past Club NXT goalkeeper Senne Lammens into the bottom corner.
Just before the half-hour mark, Jong Genk doubled their lead through a well-worked set piece. A corner from the right was flicked on at the near post by defender Jorne Spileers, allowing substitute forward Mika Godts to arrive unmarked at the back post and head the ball into the net, leaving Lammens with no chance.
The deficit appeared to deflate Club NXT’s early momentum, but the home side responded with renewed purpose after the break. Coach Rik De Mil made a tactical adjustment at halftime, pushing wing-backs higher to stretch Jong Genk’s compact shape and create overloads in wide areas.
The change bore fruit in the 58th minute when a swift counterattack down the right flank saw substitute Bart Vriends whip in a dangerous cross that was met by the onrushing Lund Jensen. The Danish forward, who had only entered the game six minutes earlier, rose above his marker to power a header into the top corner, reducing the arrears to 2-1 and reigniting belief in the home dugout.
Club NXT continued to press for an equalizer, with Jensen causing constant problems down the left channel. His pace and direct running forced Jong Genk into several defensive errors, creating half-chances that tested the visitors’ resolve. In the 76th minute, a Jensen-led break nearly produced a leveler when his cutback found Vriends arriving late at the edge of the box, but the midfielder’s first-time shot curled just wide of the far post.
As the clock ticked into injury time, the pressure told. A corner delivered from the left by Vriends found Jensen unmarked at the far post, his header crashing down off the crossbar and bouncing dangerously in front of goal. The ball fell kindly to the striker, who reacted quickest to poke it home from close range, sending the Den Dreef faithful into delirium as the referee signaled full-time moments later.
The point earned represents a significant boost for Club NXT’s promotion hopes in Belgian Pro League 2. Currently sitting 11th in the 16-team table with 28 points from 22 matches, the side now trails the top six by just four points, with a game in hand over several teams directly above them. Jong Genk, meanwhile, remain in 14th place with 24 points, their lead over the relegation zone reduced to a single point following the dropped points.
Post-match, De Mil praised his team’s resilience and highlighted Jensen’s impact as a defining factor. “Lund showed exactly why we brought him in,” De Mil said in his press conference. “His timing, his aggression in the box – he’s a threat every time he steps on the pitch. To come off the bench and score twice, including that winner… it’s the kind of moment that defines a season.”
Jensen, who joined Club NXT from Danish Superliga side FC Nordsjælland in the January transfer window for an undisclosed fee, has now scored four goals in his last five appearances for the Belgian second-tier side. His ability to arrive late in the box and finish with both feet and head has made him a valuable asset off the bench, with three of his four goals coming as a substitute.
The result continues a recent upturn in form for Club NXT, who have lost just once in their last six league matches. Their next fixture sees them travel to face Lommel SK on April 5th at 8:00 PM local time (6:00 UTC), a crucial six-point clash between two teams separated by just two positions in the standings.
For Jong Genk, the focus now shifts to avoiding a relegation scrap as they prepare to host RWDM on April 6th at 2:00 PM local time (12:00 UTC). The Brussels side currently sit just above the drop zone, making the upcoming fixture a pivotal early-season six-pointer in Belgium’s second division.
As the Belgian Pro League 2 season enters its decisive phase, every point carries heightened significance. Club NXT’s late fightback serves as a reminder that in football, games are rarely over until the final whistle blows – a lesson Lund Jensen will surely remember for a long time to come.
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