KRC Genk was crowned autumn champion two matches before the first round on Sunday afternoon. A dominant leader deservedly won his sixth home win in a row (2-0) in an intense top match against Antwerp, Patrik Hrosovsky scored both goals.
The cracker between numbers one and two exuded passion and intensity from the kick-off. The visitors immediately put a lot of pressure on, their short coverage resulted in many tough duels. But because the defenders initially had the upper hand, we had to wait more than fifteen minutes for a concrete goal threat.
Almost Janssen on a thief
The home team immediately came close to taking the lead on that very first chance. Steuckers isolated Arokodare in front of goal, but the well-paced Lammens reduced his goal well. It immediately became the signal for Genk to take control of the match. As coach Fink had hoped, the leader won the battle in midfield. Thanks to a once again impressive Bangoura, who replaced the injured Sattlberger with gusto.
Yet an unfortunate collision between Bangoura and an enthusiastic El Ouahdi led to the 0-1 score. Kerk cleverly passed through to Janssen, who kicked past face to face with Van Crombrugge.
Gem in injury time
It was the only time that a sinking Antwerp could threaten before half time. Genk dominated at the end of the first half. Both Arokodare and Steuckers were able to be blocked in extremis, but one minute of injury time was enough for the home team to take a deserved lead into the dressing room.
Photo: BELGIAN
The images of the 1-0 should become mandatory study material at the trainers’ school. Kayembe started the attack, Steuckers took over and found Arokodare with a curved ball. After 59 seconds of injury time, his header was kicked into the far corner by third man Hrosovsky, with a wonderfully controlled volley.
Encore by Hrosovsky
The leader did not make the mistake of relying too much on the narrow lead. The start of the second half was also blue and white, and once again the deserved reward followed. The 2-0 was also bursting with quality. Kayembe feigned the classic cross towards Arokodare but opted for a lazy ball at the free-standing Hrosovsky. He looked for and found the bottom right corner, again Lammens had no chance.
Two-nil, match played. Especially after Janssen also squandered his second good chance of the evening, the header whizzing wide. The three-pointer and fifth autumn title would no longer escape KRC Genk, goalkeeper Lammens even had to keep substitute Oh from making it 3-0 in the final phase.
Photo: BELGIAN
KRC GENK: Van Crombrugge v El Ouahdi, Sadick, Smets, Kayembe v Bangoura, Heynen v Steuckers, Hrosovsky, Bonus Baah v Arokodare.
ANTWERP: Lammens – Corbanie, Alderweireld, Van den Bosch, Costa – Verstraeten, Praet – Kerk, Cherry, Ondrejka – Janssen.
REPLACEMENTS: 62′ Kerk and Praet by Valencia and Scott, 72′ Arokodare by Oh, 75′ Verstraeten by Renders, 87′ Ondrejka and Cherry by Udoh and Vandeplas, 90′ Steuckers, Bonsu Baah and Hrosovsky by Adedeji-Sternberg, Karetsas and Cuesta .
GOALS: 45+1′ Hrosovsky 1-0, 54′ Hrosovsky 2-0.
YELLOW CARDS: 27′ Smets (alleged foul tackle), 61′ Sadick (dangerous play), 77′ Costa (flying tackle), 82′ Alderweireld (kicking out)
SPECTATORS: 20,407.
REFEREE: Lothar D’Hondt.
