CLUB NEWS, A-SQUAD NEWS

WHAT A COMEBACK

BEERSCHOT - JONG GENK  3 - 2

After two defeats in a row at Deinze and Beveren Beerschot recorded their first victory of 2023 on Saturday night in a sensational game of football. Our Mannekes were trailing 2-0 after half an hour but fought back in the second half with non stop pressure, good combination football, passion and pride. Ilias Sebaoui had scored just before the break, 'super sub' Axl Van Himbeeck equalised in the 87th minute and captain Ryan Sanusi waited until the 4th minute of injury time to score the winning goal. What a comeback.

Coach Andreas Wieland had to change his team in four positions with Matthys and Weymans unavailable through suspension, while Rigo and Baeten were injured. Jong Genk capitalised with two goals in the first thirty minutes. First Cutillas-Carpe put the ball in the net, then Didden tapped in after a corner with the Beerschot defense left stranded. It was an uphill struggle from that moment.

Thorisson and Verlinden threatened... but eventually it was Sebaoui who headed in Beerschot's first goal after an impressive run from Nzita over the left wing and an inch perfect cross.

Our Mannekes upped the tempo in the second half and put Jong Genk under pressure with good moves, high balls in the box and a couple of dangerous shots. The visitors didn't crumble. The loss of Nzita with a hamstring injury was a big blow for Beerschot but Verlinden took over his role and continuously outplayed and outran his opponents, causing troubke and panic in the visitors' defense.

In the end Beerschot were rewarded for their effort, character and grit. Youngster Axl Van Himbeeck, who had come on three minutes earlier, equalised in the 87th minute with a low drive after a nice collective move, and Ryan Sanusi put the icing on the cake for an unexpected but richly deserved 3-2 victory.

ATTENDANCE: 4.000
REFEREE: Allaerts
GOALS: 12' Cutillas-Carpe 0-1, 25' Didden 0-2, 45+2' Sebaoui 1-2, 87' Van Himbeeck 2-2, 90+4' Sanusi 3-2
BEERSCHOT: Lathouwers, Seydoux (46' Quirynen), Konstantopoulos, Meisl, Van den Bergh, Nzita (58' Koshi), Sanusi, Alhassan (84' Van Himbeeck), Sebaoui (68' La Morte), Verlinden, Thorisson
JONG GENK: Leysen, Sadick (61' Et-Taibi) Geusens, Ait El Hadj (61' Van de Perre), John (68'Beniangba), Didden, Rommens, Cutillas-Carpe, Godts, Martens, Bangoura
YELLOW CARDS: Didden, Quirynen, Bangoura, Meisl, Van den Bergh
RED CARDS: 90+2' Bangoura (2x yellow)

By Danny Geerts
Photo: Jan Mees

 

Jupiler Pro League

1 K. Beerschot V.A. 50 pts
2 SK Lommel 48 pts
3 K.M.S.K Deinze 46 pts
4 F.C.V. Dender E.H 45 pts
5 Patro Eisden Maasmechelen 43 pts