Club NXT U23 wins 1-2 over RSCA Futures

After the victory against SK Beveren, Club NXT took on the RSCA Futures at the Lotto Park. After a difficult start, Lenn De Smet was able to open the score after 15 minutes. In the second half, Jano Willems doubled the score. Anderlecht was able to ease to 1-2 in the closing stages. Thus, our youngsters win six out of six in the playoffs and move up to third place.

The RSCA Futures started the match best. Goalkeeper Shinton had to stop a dangerous shot by Ishaq after only a few minutes. The home team had most of the ball possession in the early stages, but did not create any real chances. On the quarter hour mark, Lenn De Smet snatched the ball from Lissens, advanced towards goal and cleverly shot the 0-1 on the board. A nice reward for his first start. Anderlecht then immediately went on the attack. Stassin cut free and shot towards goal, but Shinton was not surprised. Our goalie from Bruges was alert and took Sadiki's shot. Sabbe put the ball cleverly in front of goal after a rush, but Talbi just couldn't reach it and Homma popped at goalkeeper Vercauteren. Just before halftime, the speedy Ishaq caused some panic in the Bruges defense, but his effort went wide.

At the start of the second half, Talbi was replaced by De Roeve. Sadiki regularly caused Club NXT problems with his speed, but goalkeeper Shinton saw through his first attempt on goal. The Bruges goalie showed again why he was elected best goalkeeper of the Challenger Pro League during the regular competition. Anderlecht continued to look for the equalizer, but it was Club NXT that was successful. The just-entered Cuevas kicked a corner kick nicely in front of goal. The ball was headed through and Jano Willems popped in at the far post to make it 0-2.

The Futures replaced many players in the hope of turning the tide. Goalkeeper Shinton parried a shot by De Wilde. Shortly after, our youngsters escaped when Stassin turned away nicely and kicked at the inside of the post. Club NXT struggled and Lissens kicked the 1-2 inside cross into the corner. Coach Hayen substituted the tired Liam De Smet for Laurens Goemaere, who made his debut in professional soccer. Together with the whole team, he fought to secure the three points. A header goal by Peréz from Cuevas was disallowed for offside. In the very last seconds, a cross from the home team sailed past Shinton's goal. The score did not change again, giving our youngsters a six out of six in the playoffs. The next game is next Sunday at leader RWDM.

Club NXT: Nick Shinton, Kyriani Sabbe (59' Mauricio Aimar Cuevas), Joel Ordoñez, William Simba, Chemsdine Talbi (46' Denzel De Roeve), Shion Homma (70' Daniel Pérez), Romeo Vermant, Liam De Smet (82' Laurens Goemaere), Jano Willems, Joaquin Seys, Lenn De Smet. Bench: Henri Maton, Tobias Jensen.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.

RSCA Futures: Rik Vercauteren, Henrik Bellman, Abdulrazaq Ishaq (74' Ilias Takidina), Noah Sadiki (60' Loïc Masscho), Lucas Lissens, Ilay Camara, Nils De Wilde (74' Luca Ferrara), Alonzo Engwanda, Théo Leoni (60' Anas Tajouart), Lucas Stassin, David Hubert (81' Amando Lapage).
Coach: Guillaume Gillet.

Goals: 15' Lenn De Smet 0-1, 60' Jano Willems 0-2, 79' Lucas Lissens 1-2.

Yellow cards: 34' Engwanda, 36' Simba, 63' Ishaq, 77' Lenn De Smet.