Convincing win in Uefa Youth League

KRC Genk is a power bank for talent. Our U19s provided new evidence of this tonight in Cologne. In the first match of the UEFA Youth League, our youngsters beat 1. FC Köln convincingly 2-4. 

The match was played in an atmospheric stadium with around 3500 supporters. The Germans started strongly and were physically strong. They took the lead through Schmid after just five minutes. However, our talented youngsters did not let their heads drop and took control of the match after 15 minutes. Chance after chance followed, but the ball just would not go in. The deserved goal finally came in the 36th minute: Diawara drew things level. Just before the break, Kelvin John made the difference with two goals. His second goal in particular was an absolute beauty. Following a great first touch and a clever dribble, our Tanzanian finished with a clever chip over the goalkeeper. Wonder goal! We headed into the break leading 1-3.

The second half started in the same fashion as the first. With a goal from Köln, that is. Panic stations? Certainly not. Our boys continued to play good football and remain in control. Németh increased the lead on the hour mark. The score could have been increased more, as our side had a few more good chances. It remained 2-4: an excellent victory for our U19s. And a good position for the return game on Tuesday 19 October at 18:00. Be there and encourage our youngsters through to the next round!

Want to see the goals? Watch the highlights on our website tomorrow.

Line-up

Chambaere, Beerten, Et taibi, Monamay, Rommens, Swerts, John, Geusens, Diawara, Németh, Oyen

Goals

5'       1-0     Schmid
36'      1-1     Diawara
43'      1-2     John
45'      1-3     John
46'      2-3     Schwirten
58'      2-4     Németh

About UEFA Youth League

As champions in the youth category, we start in the "Domestic Champions Path". This includes the 32 highest ranked national champions without a first team in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League. These 32 teams play in two knockout rounds for eight places in the play-off round. If we get past Köln, we will be up against the winner of the match between Sparta Prague and MTK Budapest. In the play-off round, eight runners-up from the UEFA Champions League group stage await. The eight winners of that play-off round will, together with the eight group winners, reach the round of 16.