With Oyen and Bonsu Baah instead of Galarza and Paintsil, Wouter Vrancken made two expected changes compared to the match at KV Mechelen. Kayembe, back from the Africa Cup, started on the bench.
Early adopter
Genk’s plan to grab the opponent by the throat fell apart within two minutes. Dwomoh won the aerial duel against El Khannouss, Carlos Alberto was given too much space in the large rectangle for a subtle double pass with Biron and the surprising 0-1.µ
The early start was still sizzling for a while, the excited home team did not know where they were in the opening quarter. RWDM showed more sharpness and technique, especially on the left, the defensive weaknesses of Bonsu Baah and El Ouahdi were exposed.
Arokodare 1-1 during tribute
KRC Genk was fortunate that it received a decisive move from somewhere far above halfway through the second half. In the middle of a first offensive and during a corner kick from El Khannouss, Tribune Zuid held a tribute for supporter Kristof Venken, who died in an accident on Monday. To the tune of ‘You’ll never walk alone’, Arokodare promptly headed the ball home unstoppably: 1-1.
© Dick Demey
The relief was great, the result striking. Suddenly there was more courage and movement in the home team’s game, Arokodare quickly missed a good header chance to make it 2-1. In the meantime, we continued to watch out for the Brussels counter, Vandevoordt had to fish a place ball from star Carlos Alberto from the far corner.
Oyen scores, Vandevoordt with world save
Ten minutes before half time, Genk took the lead. El Khannouss suffered a lot after losing the ball, but with the hump of Hrosovsky he got the ball again and did something fantastic with it. A wonderful through pass became his second assist of the evening, as Oyen Defourny, who had pushed through, did not give a chance (2-1). His first goal of the season clearly made the youngster happy.
© Dick Demey
Genk could thank its successful academy for the half-time lead. After all, with Maarten Vandevoordt, a third youngster would also make a crucial contribution. The save with which he once again prevented Carlos Alberto from scoring the equalizer was truly impressive.
Zeqiri scores in injury time
Genk opened the second half with Kayembe for Sobol and a blast from El Khannouss on Defourny. The Brussels goalkeeper also saved a nice attempt by Bonsu Baah, with a lead of only one goal, the vice-champion continued to watch out for a deadly counter.
© Dick Demey
The home team kept the match under authoritarian control but forgot to put it to rest with a third goal. A tireless El Ouahdi, substitute Nkuba, Oyen and Heynen did not pull the trigger, but Zeqiri did in injury time. The Swiss pushed El Ouahdi’s cross into the net from close range. The well-deserved 3-1 victory, the first in 2024, was a fact.
KRC GENK: Vandevoordt – El Ouahdi, Cuesta, McKenzie, Sobol – Heynen, Hrosovsky – Bonsu Baah, El Khannouss, Oyen – Arokodare.
RWDM:Defourny – Camara, Sarr, Sousa, Adaramola – Dwomoh, Abe – Carlos Alberto, Queen-Adelaide, Mboup – Office.
REPLACEMENTS: 46′ Sobol by Kayembe, 60′ Biron by Ebiowei, 64′ Arokodare by Zeqiri, 67′ Carlos Alberto and Abe by Mercier and Soelle Soelle, 78′ Bonsu Baah by Nkuba, 80′ Dwomoh and Reine-Adelaïde by De Sart and Abner, 94′ Oyen by Adedeji-Sternberg..
DOELPUNTEN: 2′ Carlos Alberto 0-1, 21′ Arokodare 1-1, 36′ Oyen 2-1, 92′ Zeqiri 3-1.
YELLOW CARDS: 50′ Cuesta (late tackle),69′ Dwomoh (late tackle).
SPECTATORS: 16,421.
REFEREE: Michiel Allaerts.