Club NXT U23 had to ultimately lose out against Jong Gent. The winning goal came in extra time via a corner kick. However, Blauw-Zwart took the lead twice in the second half, first through Osuji and then through Van Britsom. Gent equalized twice through a header by Mazouz and Vandenbroucke. Shortly before the end of regular playing time, a blast from Koren splattered on the crossbar. The winning goal was also a header by Abdullahi. It was 3-2 at Planet Group Arena.
Coach De Roeck surprised with Osuji in midfield and Goemaere in defense. Blue-Black had a difficult start to the match. The Buffaloes camped out on Club NXT U23's half, so to speak. Fortunately, their shots flew wide or over the goal. Goalkeeper Vanden Driessche went well flat on a shot by Asselman. And after almost fifteen minutes of play, he tapped twice just over the crossbar. Diop and Vandenbrouck were the shooters on duty. The first real chance for Club NXT U23 was a free kick, which was kicked over by Goemaere.
Jong Gent dominated the match. Our goalie kept his nets clean for the time being. It waited until about ten minutes before halftime that Club NXT U23 could really threaten goalkeeper Evens. First, Lund Jensen dribbled through the Gent defense. However, the Gent goalie worked his shot into a corner kick. This was put well in front of goal but Osuji headed wide. Gent had a few more chances until halftime. Koren tried for Club NXT U23 from long range, but also to no avail. We went to rest with a glasses score.
Bisiwu remained in the locker room at the start of the second half. His replacement was Amengai. Once again, Jong Gent was the dominant team, but no really big chances remained. It was Osuji who made the nets tremble at the other end. He lobbed the ball beautifully over goalkeeper Evens. Club NXT U23 was ahead, but that did not last long. Jong Gent mounted an attack down the left flank. Morel's cross landed on the head of Mazouz who netted the equalizer. Vanden Driessche then prevented a deficit. Not much later, the goal fell on the other side. Van Britsom rounded off a clever counterattack through Koren and scored the 1-2. A few minutes later, Lund Jensen missed the 1-3. Too bad, because the next time the home team attacked, they scored. Again through the left flank, Abdullahi put the ball in front of goal and this time Vandenbroucke headed in. Both teams went in search of the winning goal. Koren almost succeeded twice. First he popped at goalkeeper Evens. On his next attempt, the ball ricocheted off the crossbar. Brutal bad luck for Club NXT U23. The misses were paid cash, in the closing stages of the match, when Abdullahi finished a final corner kick also with the header. 3-2. A narrow defeat by just one goal difference. Next match of Club NXT U23 is on Easter Saturday against Eupen, for the last home match in the Challenger Pro League.
Club NXT U23: Argus Vanden Driessche, Alexander Vandeperre, Samuel Gomez Van Hoogen, Laurens Goemaere, Siebe Wylin, Gianluca Okon-Engstler, Vince Osuji (82' Alejandro Granados), Jesse Bisiwu (46' Naïm Amengai), Tian Nai Koren (89' Andre Garcia), Tobias Lund Jensen, Jakke Van Britsom (82' Jessi Da Silva). Bank: Thibeau Kestemont, Rayan Buifrahi, Wout Verlinden, Sem Audoor, Mohamed Elbay. Coach: Jonas De Roeck.
Jong Gent: Bas Evers, Briek Morel, Preben Blondeel, Hannes Vernemmen, Victor Vandenbroucke, Wout Asselman, Mathias Delorge (46' Oleksandr Soroka), Gyano Vanderdonck, Abubakar Abdullahi (90+3' Ali Sylla), Mohammed El Adfaoui (64' Ruslan Vydysh), Diop Modar (46' Jassim Mazouz). Bank: René Vanden Borre, Simon Buggea, Souta Tsukuda, Briek Van Hoorick, Michiel Cauwel. Coach: Thomas Matton.
Goals: 54' Osuji 0-1, 64' Mazouz 1-1, 66' Van Britsom 1-2, 75' Vandenbroucke 2-2, 90+1' Abdullahi 3-2.
Yellow cards: 20' Delorge, 65' Morel, 76' Amengai, 80' Asselman.
Referee: Lander Bultynck.
Stadium: Planet Group Arena, Ghent.