PREDOMINANCE IN THE FIRST HALF
In a mature match, our youngsters easily kept pace with the visitors. The first chance was for Homma who kicked at goal in a spin move. Goalkeeper Miras boxed the ball away and prevented an early origin from Club NXT U23. Also when Mbamba gave a delightful through pass, the well-running goalkeeper Miras prevented a goal from the eager Mertens. Via a nice cross from Sabbe, our striker headed just over the crossbar. The visitors in turn threatened through a sneaky De Ridder who tried to lob goalkeeper Lammens from about 35 meters. The ball fortunately disappeared over our goalie's goal. Lammens then showed his class when he went flat on a Dansoko shot. On the next Bruges attack, it was on target. The quick Homme launched Lynnt Audoor who had space on the right flank. He crossed the leather perfectly and Mertens finished in a controlled manner. 1-0. Our youngsters continued to force chances but crosses from Cuevas and Sabbe were unfortunately not finished. Deinze also threatened. Goalkeeper Lammens just managed to punch the ball away before De Belder could head it in. Quinteiro also headed just over the Bruges goal. Deinze wanted to eliminate the deficit at halftime. The visitors were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area after a foul by Ordoñez. Fortunately, De Ridder popped over goal. Just before halftime, Vermant was brought down in the box, but referee Vermeiren did not see a penalty. Blauw Zwart went to rest with a small lead.
MATURE SECOND HALF
Deinze came out of the locker room eagerly looking for the equalizer. Club NXT played maturely and the lead was not really in danger. Until Staelens lashed in from close range and Lammens again kept the zero on the board. Staelens also failed to finish on a cross from ex-Bruggeling Jannes Vansteenkiste. Engels replaced Sandra. Moments later he put the leather in front of the visiting goal, Vermant just couldn't reach it and Homma unfortunately hit the ball with his arm. Chance lost. At Deinze, two ex-Club NXT U23 players were brought in with Carcela-Gonzalez and Van Landschoot. Coach Hayen in turn replaced Hautekiet and Homma with De Roeve and Talbi. After Vermant failed to capitalize on an excellent chance to double the score after a very long rush on goal, the sprinting Talbi was also unable to finish his first attempt. There was again drive in the game of Club NXT U23. Yet it was still a matter of watching out. A quick action by Deinze on the right flank could only just be pushed away by our goalie from Bruges. The next counterattack by Blauw Zwart allowed sniper Mertens to put the 2-0 on the scoreboard after a cross from Talbi. Deinze then picked up a few more yellow cards and did not have the strength to strike back. It was Club NXT U23 that almost made it 3-0 through a free kick by Engels that disappeared just wide of goal.
A deserved victory by Club NXT that with this advances in the rankings to a provisional fourth place. Next league game is at Dender, on Saturday, the last match of a so far successful outward round. But before the meeting with Dender, an important UEFA Youth League match against FC Porto U23 awaits on Wednesday.
Club NXT: Senne Lammens, Kyriani Sabbe, Joël Ordoñez, Aimar Cuevas, Ibe Hautekiet (71' Denzel De Roeve), Shion Homma (71' Chemsdine Talbi), Lynnt Audoor, Noah Mbamba, Cisse Sandra (60' Arne Engels), Romeo Vermant, Lennart Mertens. Bench: Liam De Smet, Sem Audoor, Joaquin Seys.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
KMSK Deinze: Nacho Miras, Teo Quinteiro, Liam Fraser, Steve De Ridder (72' Jellert Van Landschoot), Alessio Staelens, Dylan De Belder, Gaëtan Hendrickx (81' Achraf El Bouchataoui), Denis Prychynenko, Bafode Dansoko, Jannes Vansteenkiste, David Winke (62' Joachim Carcela-Gonzalez).
Goals: 28' and 80' Mertens 1-0 and 2-0.
Yellow: 18' De Ridder, 43' Ordoñez, 48' Sandra, 88' El Bouchataoui, 90' Quintero.
Referee: Ken Vermeiren.
Stadium: The Nest Roeselare.
Spectators: 397.
