Five playing days before the end of the Challenger Pro League, Club NXT U23 hosted the penultimate in the standings, Seraing. After a 9/9 in recent weeks, the perfect opportunity to win 12/12 at home for the first time this season. Et-Taïbi opened the scoring after 15 minutes. Our youngsters dominated the entire match but forgot to finish their chances. Lepoint punished this and netted the 1-1 just before the end. Just like in the first match, it was an unnecessary loss.
Club NXT wanted to continue the momentum of the past few weeks and be mathematically sure of survival if they could win against Seraing. Seraing on the other hand is fighting against relegation. It was the visitors who started the match with the most intensity. Poor defending by Yameogo forced Liam De Smet to pull the emergency brake. Fortunately, he received only a yellow card. Seraing purveyed little from its attempts to put goalkeeper Bursik to work. Led by captain Seys, Club NXT kept everything well under control and resolutely took control of the match. Barberá's first goal chance disappeared wide of Sy's goal. Through the ensuing corner kick, Et-Taïbi was able to shake the nets. 1-0 after fifteen minutes of play. Club NXT U23 seemed launched.
Blue-Black had continuous possession of the ball. Seraing completely subdued the game. However, finding a hole in the defensive lines was not evident. Mo Salah and Lenn De Smet unfortunately could not finish our youngsters' attacks. On the other side, Bursik and his defense had everything under control. After a solid tackle by Yameogo, Seraing was unable to capitalize on his free kick.
The very industrious Salah served Homma after one of his clever actions. The Japanese played the ball from a sharp angle - too sharp - and goalkeeper Sy was able to clear. The in-form Lenn Smet created a moment of excitement. With a stroke of genius he put the very experienced Lepoint in the wind, his cross unfortunately just did not reach a teammate. Shortly before halftime, the same De Smet served his teammate Homma. The Japanese cut inside in his well-known style, but placed his shot inches wide of the wrong side of the post. We went into halftime with only 1-0 on the scoreboard.
Plenty of chances, no goals for Blauw-Zwart
Audoor replaced Seys after the break. Et-Taïbi took over the captain's armband. Little changed in the second half. Club NXT attacked from within the organization and got even more chances than in the first half. Salah rushed forward and served Et-Taïbi, who found goalkeeper Sy in his way. Salah then tried it himself, but his shot went narrowly over the visitors' goal. Once again Salah managed to put the substitute Furo in front of goal, but the striker failed to level the score. His ball also went narrowly wide of the post. Homma tried his luck with an ingenious slice of the ball, but his effort also failed to go in. Seraing had to continue with ten men after a second yellow card for Droehnle, but still the people from Liège were able to score. After a Fall cross, the ball went to Lepoint, who out of nowhere put the 1-1 final score on the board shortly before the end. Very sour for Club NXT U23 who were not rewarded for their fine performance.
This leaves Seraing as penultimate on 11 points of Blauw-Zwart and our youngsters are mathematically not yet safe. It is up to them to overcome Dender - the team of coach Timmy Simons - after the international break and definitively claim their place in the Challenger Pro League.
Club NXT U23: Josef Bursik, Bi Kader Yameogo, Jano Willems, Amine Et-Taïbi, Joaquin Seys (46' Sem Audoor), Liam De Smet (90' William Simba), Alejandro Granados (76' Laurens Goemaere), Mohamed Salah (90' Jessi Da Silva), Lenn De Smet, Shion Homma, Victor Barbera (60' Kaye Furo). Bench: Axl De Corte, Tobias Lund Jensen, Bruce Deuwel. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
RFC Seraing: Pape Sy, Ousmane Kebé, Ruben Droehnle, Christophe Lepoint, Marvin Tshibuabua, Cheikhou Ndiaye (82' Sacha Marloye), Mathieu Cachbach, Gerald Kilota, Edouard Soumah-Abad (55' Harrison Ondo-Eyin, 82' Sonny Perrey), Pape Fall, Nelson Balongo (90' Sandro Tremoulet). Bench: Lucas Margueron, Noah Solheid, Matteo Scarpinatti, Desire Segbe, Mahamadou Dembele. Coach: Mbaye Leye.
Goals: 15' Et-Taïbi 1-0, 88' Lepoint 1-1.
Yellow cards: 10' Liam De Smet, 76' Ndiaye, 90' Lenn De Smet.
Red cards: 41' and 83' Droehnle (2x yellow).
Referee: Jordy Vermeire.
Stadium: The Nest Roeselare.
Spectators: 237.