Cercle Brugge and Racing Genk served an extremely attractive game of football under the first spring sun with numerous opportunities and four goals, neatly divided between the two teams. Cercle led 2-0, but Storck’s substitutions halfway through had an effect against his former team. Genk caught up and did a good thing. With a view to the first eight and the Europe play-offs, the Limburgers keep Cercle at five points.
It was only a few days after two years since Bernd Storck had visited Cercle again. It was clear in the run-up to the match that the fans hadn’t forgotten about him. With the miraculous rescue two years ago, Storck can no longer do any harm in the eyes of the Cercle fans. He has yet to earn his stripes at his new club Genk. The Limburgers for the first four places did not succeed, the first eight should in principle not be a problem.
Anyone who saw Genk playing football against Cercle on Saturday afternoon under the first spring sun began to doubt that again. As is the case almost every week, Cercle flew in from the first minute. With high pressure, and that had already gone badly for top teams such as Club Brugge and Anderlecht. Genk also had to bite through that sour apple during the first 20 minutes. It came off well in the first minute when Utkus bounced higher than Vandevoordt, but Lambrechts whistled for a mistake on the goalkeeper.
Genk had easily distanced themselves against KV Kortrijk last week, but Storck nevertheless made a change. Munoz disappeared to the bench for Preciado. Cercle missed Didillon due to a broken finger, but captain Van der Bruggen (suspended) and Popovic (injured) were also missing. It certainly had no influence on the high tempo imposed by the people of Bruges. Storck must have even imagined himself in the Bundesliga.
Matondo breaks the ban
It also created chances, but Denkey and Matondo were unable to finish. Genk only started to find his way after 20 minutes. Ito’s bang resulted in a corner and Onuachu actually headed over the crossbar. The Brazilian Warleson, Didillon’s replacement, was then in the right place to catch another attempt by Ito.
Photo: BELGA
Yet it was Cercle that took the lead. Denkey launched Matondo, Vandevoordt hesitated again. But Matondo remained calm, got rid of Sadick and put the ball in goal in front of the declining Vandevoordt: 1-0. Genk responded, but Warleson proved, just like in the cup at Mechelen, that Cercle should not worry if it has to miss Didillon.
Homemade cookie
It was obvious that Storck would intervene during the break. And he did it as we know him. Not one change, but three. Yet it was again Cercle that started best via Denkey. Ito could also have scored quickly when he came diagonally alone in front of the goal, but aimed over. The goal fell on the other side. Just like last week in Mechelen, this time it was again Miangue who scored in a standing phase. Genk seemed exhausted, but Cercle suddenly got a taste of its own dough. Last week in Mechelen, it took a 2-0 deficit, now Genk imitated that.
Warleson distinguished himself on a shot from Onuachu, but was unlucky to have Bongonda followed closely for the rebound. Genk back in the match and that was especially the case when Heynen caught Preciado’s cross in one go: 2-2. A good thing for Genk, because with a draw it could keep Cercle on five points with a view to eighth place. You soon noticed that, because Vandevoordt immediately started to gain time.
Photo: BELGA
It had been 2013 since Cercle Genk could have beaten Genk again. Another reason for Cercle to go all out. Daland almost headed in on the umpteenth corner and after some great work by Matondo, Denkey hit the post. Just before that, Ito had already shown him on the other side. Thalhammer brought in Somers for Deman, but that didn’t help. In the final minutes, Genk even started pressing, but Warleson also parried Onuachu’s header. So it remained 2-2: Genk in particular could be satisfied, but above all relieved.
