Club NXT U23 loses 3-1 to RFC Liege

Club NXT U23 lost 3-1 on Friday night at the field of RFC Liege. Our youngsters first took the lead through a goal by Salah, but then the Liège players were able to turn the situation around with goals by Bertaccini (2x) and Cascio.

Club NXT U23 traveled to the fiery city for the first time this season. With Seraing, Standard U23 and Club Liege, the city of Liege counts three teams in the Challenger Proleague. With Gaetan Englebert and Eric Deflandere, FC Liege has two former Club Brugge players on its coaching staff. Homma, Vermant and Shinton were the three A core players who started in the starting lineup for NXT. Granados came on to kick off at the expense of Audoor.

Blue-Black started the match best. Vermant, played in by Homma, quickly tested goalkeeper Debaty, but the home goalie went well flat. A free kick by Salah disappeared narrowly wide of the goal. Soon after, Debaty was floored. Homma cleverly crossed to Seys who passed to Vermant. The young striker turned free nicely, but his shot was blocked and the ball disappeared in a real pinball until it reached Salah at the right goalpost. The number 10 just had to tap it in. 0-1 after just over ten minutes, a perfect start. Afterwards, Club NXT swallowed three yellow cards, and that had its influence on the match.

The home team tried to take control of the match. A whole series of corner kicks followed and on one of them it was a prize. Bertaccini headed the ball high over everyone and the ball disappeared into the upper left corner of the goal. 1-1. Club NXT digested this equalizer with difficulty. Liege pressed on. Fortunately, the again strong goalkeeper Shinton was able to parry a Bertaccini blast with his fists. Afterwards, our goallie stood firm again when the infiltrating Merlen popped on goal. It was sink or swim until halftime.

Liege launched one attack after another. Blauw-Zwart's defense was cracking. Just before halftime, Shinton had to save again. With a clever floating jump he prevented a deficit when D'Ostilio sought the far corner. Loemba also did not get past our goalie. The last chance before halftime was for the sharp Bertaccini. With his left he tried to outsmart Shinton, but our goalie cleared with his foot. 1-1 at halftime, courtesy of Shinton, who distinguished himself.

RFC Liege goes over

At the start of the second half, the first chance was for Club NXT. Homma rushed forward and saw his effort disappear narrowly wide of goal. Afterwards, it was again Liege that forced the best chances. Loemba's shot went inches over the crossbar. Bertaccini's effort also went over the crossbar. The pressure from Liege was overwhelming. Club NXT could not make a fist and did not get back in the game. Ten minutes after halftime, Bertaccini then fielded the stifle. Loemba put Salah into the wind with a feint and then swished in front. Bertaccini popped up at the far post and shot hard inside.

Coach Hayen intervened and brought in three new forces with Faraas, Lenn De Smet and Goemaere with the hope the tide seemed to turn. Club NXT balanced the match. Norwegian Faraas put Homma in front of goal, but the Japanese needed just a little too much time to finish. A Liège defender managed to turn the ball into a corner. Afterwards Faraas and Homma repeated the same action, unfortunately without result. Liege in turn put Shinton to work again. The number one of Club NXT U23 proved his worth by turning the attempts of Cascio and Merlen.

With fifteen minutes left on the clock, our goalkeeper had to concede anyway. Cascio netted the 3-1. Bruggeman delivered a sharp cross at the first post, where Cascio popped up. He made the nets tremble a third time for the home team. The match seemed to be played. Club NXT could no longer find a hole in Liege's organization. In extra time, Lenn De Smet narrowly missed the tying goal, but the calf was drowned. A young Club NXT lost to a more mature and solid Club Liege. Next game is next Saturday against Standard's pledges. Supporters be on post at The Nest as much as possible to shout our youngsters to victory.

Club NXT: Nick Shinton, Denzel De Roeve (79' William Simba), Jano Willems, Amine Et-Taïbi, Joaquin Seys, Liam De Smet, Alejandro Granados (61' Laurens Goemaere), Shion Homma, Mohamed Salah (61' Lenn De Smet), Romeo Vermant, Viktor Barbera (61' Benjamin Faraas).

Bank: Henri Maton, Sem Audoor, Olexandr Yakymenko.

Coach: Nicky Hayen.

Club Liege: Kevin Debaty, Benoit Nyssen, Benjamin Lambot, Jordan Bustin, Jonathan D'Ostilio, Reno Wilmots, Ryan Merlen (88' Zakaria Atteri), Damien Mouchamps (82' Lima Lioka), Gaby Loemba (71' Alessio Cascio), Benoit Bruggeman (88' Lucca Lucker), Adriano Bertaccini (82' Maxime Cavelier).

Coach: Gaetan Englebert.

Goals: 11' Salah 0-1, 25' Bertaccini 1-1, 55' Bertaccini 2-1, 76' Cascio 3-1.

Yellow cards: 4' Nyssen, 12' Granados, 21' Homma, 27' Salah, 69' Bustin, 78' Seys.

Referee: Klass Clerkx.

Stadium: Rocourt Liege.