KV Kortrijk inflicts a weak Racing Genk team with its first defeat since the first round and hopefully shows up in the standings.

Anyone who has not yet taken his seat at the first whistle on Boxing Day almost immediately misses a goal at Guldenspors Stadium. Massimo Bruno slammed 15 seconds later, but flying Vandewoordt and the post prevented Racing Genk from falling behind early on.

This wasn’t the only time Vandewoordt had to save furniture for visitors. At the end of the first half he had to do it twice in Messoudi’s attempts. The first time it was a place ball, then from close range, but each time Vandevoord shot the ball out of his own net.

However, it wasn’t all Kortrijk beating the clock because midway through the second period it would have been 1-0. Al Khnous got plenty of space and decided to put the ball aside towards Paintsil. However, the guard did not pass Vandenberg. On the rebound, Onuachu had the ball, but was unable to get past the three Kortrijk defenders who were guarding the empty goal and decided on Watanabe. Heinen also found Kortrijk’s goalkeeper in the path minutes earlier.

Also at the start of the second half, Kortrijk was home chief. Messoudi was the most active up front, but this time his shot narrowly missed the post through Genk’s leg. And so it took some time, Kortrijk was the better team and Genk had to counterattack. However, it was almost never released in the early part of the second half.

Franken decided to step in and bring Onuacho, Trezor and El Khanos to the bench. That triple substitution had an effect almost immediately when Heynen found Samatta free on the 16th, but through Loncar the ball disappeared into the corner.

It seemed that the match ended without a goal, but Vandevoordt was beaten with 7 minutes left. Mbayo had Arteaga in front of him and got the ball with a lucky shot. It was a piece of cake for Avenatti to score 1-0 from close range and blow up Guldenspor.

In the 90th minute, goalkeeper Vandenberghe turned out to be the match winner by flicking and bouncing Heinen’s header off his line and retaining the three points for his team.

Antwerp could creep up a bit in the standings against Westerlo tomorrow, while Kortrijk calls the rest of the standings.