Club NXT U23 won on the field of Jong Genk with 1-2. An important win for our youngsters who have now crept back closer to the top six. Club NXT took the lead through Liam De Smet during the first half. Just after halftime Da Costa equalized for Jong Genk, but Faraas headed his team back into the lead fifteen minutes before time. Club NXT thus booked an important and deserved three points.
After the defeat against Lommel, Club NXT got the chance to recover against their peers from Jong Genk. In the stadium of the defunct Verbroedering Geel, Blauw-Zwart started best. Lynnt Audoor's first corner kick was sharp in front of goal, but Caicedo was well between them. A free kick by Liam De Smet eventually disappeared into a corner. A magisterial cross from Faraas did not reach anyone in front of goal. Blauw-Zwart clearly had the upper hand, but in front of goal they had to be sharper.
After just over ten minutes it was almost 0-1. Sem Audoor crossed well to Furo. He was unable to reach the ball, but in the rebound Lenn De Smet was able to put in a shot towards the near corner. Goalkeeper Penders dived just in time and ultimately boxed the ball into a corner. Shortly after, Club NXT got a free kick at the edge of the Genk sixty. This chance unfortunately yielded nothing.
Goalkeeper Penders was not having his day. He put the through-breaking Lenn De Smet down just before the penalty area. The Genk goalkeeper received only yellow. Campbell also had a chance to open the score afterwards, but his shot was blocked. Club NXT was the best team on the field. Still, our goalie suddenly had to save the furniture when Mirisola was free to lay on from the penalty spot. De Corte picked up a magisterial spread to prevent the 1-0.
On the half hour our youngsters were rewarded for their efforts. A sharply cut cross bumped against the post, but Liam De Smet had excellent tracking and was able to tap the ball into the open goal. The 0-1 was well deserved. But the home team's reply was not long in coming. Lazar kicked straight at goalkeeper De Corte. In an attempt by Claes, our goalkeeper could easily clamp the shot. The last giant chance of the first half was also for the Genkies. Claes lashed out. The ball hit the crossbar and fell to the ground just before the goal line. Genk protested and saw the ball go in, but the referee ruled it was not. So we went to rest with a deserved 0-1 lead.
