The youngsters in our U-19 team had a 1-2 lead coming back from Budapest, and they didn't want to give the Hungarians the illusion that there was still something at stake. Dominant football and plenty of the ball told the story for Genk, who controlled the match without much danger of conceding goal. An industrious Luca Oyen had the best chances before the break — first he shot over on a pass from Lucas Beerten, and then another chance came after a smart touch from Kelvin John, but Luca was at a tough angle in front of the goal, and his effort was within reach of the Hungarian goalkeeper. MTK, for their part, would never threaten Tobe Leysen in the first half, which ended scoreless.
The first attempt in the second half was a nice shot by Lucas Beerten, with his left foot, which was just too high. Would MTK show more initiative? Not right away, but after the half they would keep us alert. It was amazing how the barely 15-year-old Madi Monamay stood tall at the back, authoritatively defending. Gradually the pressure mounted on the Hungarian defence — first Németh saw an attempt blocked, and then on the second ball Abid shot just over.
The breakthrough nevertheless came, eight minutes from time, after a wonderfully curled free kick by Jay-Dee Geusens. It didn't matter that Luca Oyen later missed a chance to make it 2-0; qualification was sealed!
Come 14 December, we will know our opponent in the play-off round. In any case, it will be a big name, a club from the group stage of the Champions League.
Starting XI:
Leysen, Beerten, Vande Perre, Monamay, Rommens, Swerts, Geusens, Abid (Arabaci 91'), John (Diawara 63'), Németh (El Khannous 87'), Oyen
Goals:
83' 1-0 Geusens
