Before kick-off, both supporters’ cores showed that they share more than just blue as a club colour. With a beautiful action, they showed united and powerful voice of the importance of fair play in football. In other words, the atmosphere was great in a sun-drenched Cegeka Arena. Hopefully, all these positive elements also inspired the Kemphians on the pitch for a great performance.

Line-up KVC Westerlo: S. Bolat, D. Haspolat (58′ E. Daci), S. Sydorchuk (67′ K. Vaesen), B. Reynolds, R. Tagir, E. Jordanov (58′ T. Rommens), R. Neustädter (58′ L. Van Eenoo) , E. Bayram, L. Stassin, Y. Matsuo, N. Chadli (9′ T. Van den Keybus <> 75′ K. Vaesen)

First half

Where everything was beautiful before the start of the match, the match itself started with a dip for KVCW. First, our Kemphans saw Chadli out injured, then to make matters worse, they also saw the visitors open the scoring. Munoz flawlessly put the 1-0 on the board from close range after Arokodare’s through header.

After the opening goal, the Genks had the wind in their sails. Supported by the home crowd, they went in search of a quick 2-0, but they were unable to beat Bolat again. On the contrary, it was Stassin who put out the Genk attacking waves. After a clever attack from the right, he coolly popped in the equaliser.

What followed was an animated first half. Bolat showed his skills on an effort by Paintsil, who broke through quickly, and his colleague on the other side had to stand firm on shots by Stassin and Matsuo.

Despite the game continuing to go up and down well, everyone in the Cegeka Arena seemed to be preparing to go into half-time with the score tied. Until in a doldrums finale, Kayembe first shot the home team to the sky with the 2-1, but referee De Cremer made that same sky close again with thunderclouds by ruling out Baah for a strike to the face of Van den Keybus.

Tweede helft

With a man more, the initiative at the start of the second half lay with our Kemphians, but they soon ran into a razor-sharp counter from the home team. Kayembe sent Paintsil away, who placed the 3-1 past Bolat.

The Genks could settle into their hedgehog position even more. With three substitutions, coach De Roeck hoped to break the Genk bastion. Breaker on duty Daci immediately showed that his foray into implementing that plan was a smart move. With his head, he deviated a cross level at the feet of Stassin, who provided the hopeful tying goal with his second of the afternoon.

With extra time approaching, it was another substitute who completed the comeback all the way. The Reynolds-Stassin tandem found fellow flank defender Rommens at the far post and he popped the ball past Vandevoordt with steely speed. The ex-captain of Jong Genk did not celebrate his goal, but it was an important point for our Kemphans.

Report: Glen Van Herck
Photos: Dha/Photo News