Racing Genk is exhausted in Europe. Limburger still has a chance to spend the winter in the European League or Conference League, but they suffered a painful defeat at home to Rapid Vienna and lost their hands. A new blow to the team of new coach Bernd Stork.
Racing Genk – Rapid Vienna in a nutshell:
- Key moment: Half an hour later, Rapid Vienna deservedly took the lead. The loss of the ball after a corner kick from Genk leads to a sharp rebound from Vienna and Schek Ljubicic hits the first goal.
- man of the match: Robert Ljubicic scored the only goal of the evening and led his team to the group stage in the last group match. Without strong goalkeeper Vandevoordt, he would have helped 0-2 shortly after the break.
- Special: Genk has been waiting for victory since the end of October. After the away win over Zolte Wargem, he was already unable to win 8 games in a row, with 4 matches A draw and 4 defeats.
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Changing the coach has no effect
At first, Bernd Storck immediately passed a difficult exam and his goal was the European winter. It was also an opportunity for Genk’s players to gain the confidence of the new coach, but they did not give up in the first half.
Rapid Vienna showed passion and immediately drove a weak genie. Grull put Vandevoordt to work for the first time fifteen minutes later and five minutes later the Genk guard had to really show his ability in an effort from Kara.
Genk was only dangerous when fast goalkeeper Gartler flopped, but Thorstvedt could only take a corner. It also led 0-1 in favor of Rapid after Genk lost the ball. He found Cheek Ljubicic and completed the counter well.
Ljubicic completes a quick counterattack and makes Rapid Wien 0-1
The fast no longer gives up the lead
Stork dropped Onwacho, Cuesta and Lukumi in the squad early in the second half, but it was Rabid again who caused the first danger. Vandevoordt avoided with a good intervention that Strunz could immediately make a sharp meter shutdown.
However, there was suddenly more momentum in Genk. Gartler had to distinguish himself twice, first on a low kick from Onuachu and also kept Thorstvedt from equalizing with a nice sweep.
After a good start, Genk fizzled out again. The home team continued to pile up corner kicks, but didn’t get much out of them. Owen’s handsome replacement gave Genk supporters some hope in the final stage, although it was Cuesta who missed the last chance with a draw and thus a ticket to the Conference League.
Angry Onuachu goes from nose to nose with ref
Storck: ‘Positive for the future’
- Christian Thorstedt (Racing Genk): “A goal in this way is not possible at this level. We improved in the second half, but we just have to finish it. Quite simply. We now have 8 games without a win, and we have to do something. We have to analyze how we can create more chances and concede Fewer goals. In the first half it was clear that we had a difficult time, in the second half we knew better what to do, but the ball wouldn’t go in.”
- Paul Onwacho (Racing Genk): “The first half didn’t go as planned, but in the second we fought back. We needed more luck, but Rapid was also good defensively. We have to take the good from the second half to the next game. The whole focus will now be on the competition, We will try to make the most of it. We just have to keep working hard.”
- Bernd Stork (Coach Racing Genk): “The disappointment is huge, because this team is progressing more based on what I saw in the training yesterday. But in the first half we made a lot of mistakes, we were not in the match. It also lacks confidence. We have to learn from our mistakes, but I also saw a lot of Positive things in the second half. With a little luck we could score goals after that. I am optimistic about the future and I want to convey this positive atmosphere to the team. We have a strong squad, but they still have to learn and work hard.”
Stork: “We have to learn from our mistakes”
Bongonda: “The coach is here 24 hours, he can’t perform miracles”
Onwacho: “We have to take the good from the second half”
Thorstvedt: “8 games without a win, we desperately need to do something about it”
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Cuesta’s final header is still far away
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Bongonda almost stole the ball from the fast goalkeeper
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