KRC Genk
1 
0
Anderlecht
Coach Mazzu was cautiously optimistic. “We know things are not going too well in Anderlecht. But once the engine fires up, it's a really good team."
KRC Genk added two new faces to their squad this week. Patrik Hrosovsky saw his former team Viktoria Pilzen being kicked out of the Europa League by Antwerp. But that allowed him to make his move to KRC Genk earlier than expected.
“I expect from him the same as from all the other players in my squad,” Felice Mazzu said. “I hope he brings more experience into the team. He's a guy with a lot of calm, intelligence and composure. I've seen some really good stuff from him in training.”
Paul Ebere Onuachu arrived in Genk this week. The 2.01 metres tall striker joined the team from FC Midtjylland.
“With his height, he gives us an extra weapon up front," the coach said.
Onuachu wasn't eligible to play yet. Hrosovsky was be he started on the bench. Mazzu didn't change the line-up that took on Waasland-Beveren last week.
With just 2 out of 12 points, Anderlecht made it's worst start of the season in 20 years. But the ranks are closed and everybody stands firm behind Vincent Kompany's project. If that was enough to grab points on the reigning champions turf was left to be seen.
Thelin and Kayembe payed the price for the defeat in Kortrijk. Zulj and Amusu started the game as their replacements. Former Genk player Pieter Gerkens wasn't even on the bench.
No danger in the first half.
The story of the first half is short. Lot's of good intentions, no danger on either side. Paintsil opened the debate with a belter that shattered on Kompany's body. After that it wasn't until minute 21 before we saw a situation worth mentioning. Nasri found Amuzu. He pivoted away from his marker but he wildly kicked over.
For a moment the game seemed to break loose. Ito darted away from his opponent, reached the touch line and pulled the ball back. Piotrowski only just failed to convert. On the opposite side a Verschaeren free kick sailed all the way to the far post. Kompany couldn't reach it.
With three minutes left on the clock De Norre put the ball through to Ito. The Japanese saw his cross deflected into corner. With a scooped ball Nasri found Vlap but his attempt went over the cross bar. The first half ended without goals.
Samatta, again.
After ten minutes in the second half Paintsil appeared in the back of Sardella but his shot ended up in the side netting after a deflection of a defenders foot. The corner kick almost yielded the opening goal. Dewaest headed it in, Van Crombrugge fumbled it but Sandler saved on the touch line.
It was nothing but a delay. Barely one minute later Heynen won the ball in the area, Ito picked it up and teed up Samatta for his fifth of the season. Ten minutes later Piotrowski took a free header from point blank range. This time Van Crombrugge produced an excellent reflex save. Shortly after our Polish midfielder went off to grant Hrosovsky his debut in the Belgian League.
With fifteen minutes left, things got even worse for Anderlecht when Kompany went down on the pitch. Cobbaut came on as his substitute. For a moment, things heated up in front of the Genk goal. Cobbaut battled into the area but his shot deflected of Dewaest's heel and went wide. Adzic, another substitute, repeated that shortly after. This time Coucke made the save. Anderlecht tried to set up a closing offensive but it was Samatta who almost doubled the score. He won a ball from an Anderlecht defender only to scoop it over the bar. A hard fought game ended in a 1 - 0 victory.
KRC Genk line-up: Coucke, De Norre, Dewaest, Lucumi, Uronen, Heynen, Berge, Piotrowski (73’ Hrosovsky), Ito, Paintsil (89’ Ndongala) and Samatta
RSC Anderlecht line-up: Van Crombrugge, Kompany (77’ Cobbaut), Vlap, Nasri, Chadli (73’ Adzic), Zulj, Sandler (70’ Kana), Amuzu, Dewaele, Verschaeren and Sardella
Scorers:
55’ : 1 – 0 : Samatta
Bookings: 93’ Kana
Sending offs:
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Attendance: 22.105
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