KRC Genk
2 
2
Antwerp
Dreaming is allowed, dreaming is necessary. After a whole season of competing for the title, the final match took place today. In the run-up to the game, the team bus was received by our enthusiastic supporters. And our fans believed in it; there was clearly something in the air. We don't just mean blue and white smoke, but also a lot of anticipation for the last match of the season.
First half
Our side played the first half towards the Tribune Zuid, which was completely covered in white for the occasion. This colour, symbolic of hope, looked impressive, but the first chances in the opening quarter of the game were for Antwerp. Janssen shot twice towards Vandevoordt's goal but was only able to get an effort on target once, and harmlessly at that.
After weathering Antwerp's threat, we gained more possession halfway through the first half, but crosses by Trésor and El Khannouss did not find a Genk head in front of Butez's goal. Later a penalty claim on Paintsil would be dismissed, and a free kick by Trésor punched away. Time wore on, and the end of the first half drew closer. Would the teams head into the dressing room with no score? The answer was no as an alert Trésor picked out Tolu near the penalty point in added time. He got the job done, thrilling the Cegeka Arena crowd as he made it 1-0! We entered the locker room as provisional national champions.
Second half
The opening phases of the second half was less probing than that of the first, but the lines were soon broken, which resulted in chances. Both a long shot from El Khannouss and a curling inswinger from Paintsil were claimed by Butez. Things looked good, also because the visitors had hardly created any chances.
This was the case until the hour mark, when Kerk equalised like a bolt from the blue. The crowd’s loud singing gave way to silence for a moment, but our players did not give up. Tolu would test Butez twice, before Cuesta headed over at a corner kick.
Did we deserve a penalty with 20 minutes left on the clock? Maybe so, but a handful of minutes later it would seem irrelevant. A skilful finish, well- placed with precision saw Heynen scored the second Genk goal fifteen minutes from time, firing the ball past Butez. Once stoppage time started, the score of the match between Union Saint-Gilloise and Club Brugge was in the back of both teams’ minds. That's where the puzzle pieces fell into place, but then there was still the rest of the match to survive. Things did not work out in this way, as Alderweireld delivered a major plot twist by levelling the score in the 94th minute to crown Antwerp as champions. The title and Champagne may be missing, but they won't diminish our Genk pride after a wonderful season. Thanks for the huge support, supporters!
Goals
45+1’ 1-0 Tolu
58’ 1-1 Kerk
75’ 2-1 Heynen
90+4' 2-2 Alderweireld
Starting line-up
Vandevoordt, McKenzie, Arteaga, Heynen, Trésor, Hrosovsky, Muñoz, Paintsil, El Khannouss (Sor 86’), Cuesta (Aziz 71’), Tolu (Samatta 77’).
