KRC Genk

With two video games left within the Champions’ Play-offs, the objective of Olivieri and his group was clear: to safe a European ticket. Win towards Antwerp and we’d leap over Cercle Brugge to put 4. Because of the suspension of El Khannouss, Domenico dropped the hardly 16-year-old Konstantinos Karetsas into the beginning line-up for the massive boys for the primary time.

First half

Even earlier than the ball began rolling, KRC Genk offered the primary goosebump second. The legendary champion group from the 1998-1999 season set the Cegeka Area on fireplace for the primary time. The match itself was extra leisurely. After fifteen minutes, Kayembe discovered Zeqiri for the primary time on the sting of the sixteen, however Alderweireld was in a position to stop his kick in extremis. A little bit later, his striker brother Tolu tried from a distance, however his kick fluttered large. It took half an hour earlier than the Cegeka Area utterly exploded. Kayembe captured the leather-based on the sting of his personal giant rectangle after which despatched Kos on his method. He saved three Antwerp defenders speaking on his personal after which despatched some good Zeqiri at Lammens. A chunk of cake for our Swiss who made it 1-0, Zeqiri’s ninth of the season. Earlier this season, Kos was on the charts at Jong Genk because the youngest goalscorer ever in Belgian skilled soccer, and right this moment he’s additionally the youngest assistant within the Jupiler Professional League since information firm Optastats gives the figures. Nobody would consider that he was kicking off for the primary time. Moments later he dribbled himself free after which served Cuesta for objective. His header was too central to threaten Lammens. So we deservedly took a break with a lead.

Second half

Whereas the beginning of the primary half was primarily regular, the second interval had extra alternatives. Objective scorer Zeqiri remained within the dressing room as a precaution, Fadera was his substitute, and was in a position to thank him nearly instantly. He rushed away from Van den Bosch, who prevented him from getting the possibility with pulling work. No trespassing by Laforge, so we continued enjoying soccer. Antwerp responded via Ilenikhena, who noticed his objective deflected off the road by a powerful Sadick. A little bit later the goalkeepers rolled up their sleeves once more. Vandevoordt cleverly parried a shot from Ondrejka, Lammens floated a shot from Kayembe out of his objective on the opposite aspect. With twenty minutes left on the clock, an change of applause for an uninhibited Karetsas was greater than justified. El Hadj got here into place and instantly created a objective alternative. He despatched a cross in direction of Fadera within the second zone, who aimed for the ball in entrance. As soon as damage time entered, Antwerp elevated the strain. Ilenikhena and Udoh created two extra possibilities, however as soon as once more encountered a ‘improbable’ Vandevoordt. “A solution to say goodbye to the supporters,” our goalie himself defined in an interview after the match. Together with his thirteenth clear sheet of the season, Maarten can already put the crowning glory as clear sheet king of the season in his suitcase to take with him to Leipzig after the season.

“We wished to get again into fourth place earlier than the sport, and we succeeded. Our first half was good and we created one of the best possibilities. We had troublesome moments within the second half. However I’ve to thank the boys for his or her efforts and congratulate us on the end result. We have now had unhealthy luck previously, however right this moment we had been on the opposite aspect.” -Domenico Olivieri

Line-up

Vandevoordt, Sadick, Cuesta, McKenzie, El Ouahdi, Galarza, Hrosovsky, Kayembe (85′ Sobol), Karetsas (71′ El Hadj), Zeqiri, Tolu.

Objectives

1-0 28′ Zeqiri