Genk Beats Zagreb: El Ouahdi Scores Twice in Europa League Win

Racing Genk secured a commanding 3-1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League knockout round play-off match on Thursday, February 19, 2026. Goals from Bryan Heynen, Zakaria El Ouahdi (two goals), and a reply from Dinamo Zagreb’s Dion Beljo set the stage for a potentially decisive advantage for the Belgian side ahead of the return leg.

The match, played at Stadion Maksimir in Zagreb, saw Genk take an early lead through captain Bryan Heynen, who headed in a corner kick from Konstantinos Karetsas after just 15 minutes. Six minutes later, Zakaria El Ouahdi doubled Genk’s advantage, showcasing “a héérlijke kap” according to reports, bringing the score to 2-0.

Dinamo Zagreb responded before halftime, with Dion Beljo scoring in the 44th minute to reduce the deficit to 2-1. However, Genk maintained their composure and continued to press forward in the second half.

The game saw a flurry of substitutions from both sides as managers sought to influence the outcome. Genk replaced Jarne Steuckers with Yira Sor, Arbër Hoxha with Cardoso Varela, and Miha Zajc with Gabriel Vidovic, all in the 71st minute. Dinamo Zagreb responded with Luka Stojkovic making way for Marko Soldo in the 79th minute, followed by Konstantinos Karetsas being replaced by Noah Adedeji-Sternberg in the 88th minute.

The decisive blow came in the 90th minute when El Ouahdi scored his second goal of the match, sealing the 3-1 victory for Racing Genk. The result positions Genk favorably heading into the second leg, scheduled for February 26th at 21:00, with a strong possibility of advancing to face either Roma or Freiburg in the next round.

The victory in the “kletsnatte Maksimirstadion” – the wet Maksimir Stadium – represents a significant boost for Genk as they navigate the Europa League knockout stage. The team demonstrated resilience and attacking prowess, establishing a substantial lead in the tie.