Club NXT U23 started the new season in the Challenger Pro League with a bang. It scored four goals through Furo (2 apiece) and the Audoor twins against promoted KSC Lokeren-Temse.
The visitors led by former Club Brugge player Hans Cornelis were keen on a successful return to professional soccer. They immediately took the initiative and after only seven minutes our goalkeeper Axl De Corte had to save with his foot on a shot by Van Moerzeke. After a solid opening quarter, Club NXT got better in the match. Granados and Lund Jensen just couldn't get a full out, nor could Furo finish cleanly. On stagnant phases, though, Blue-Black was threatening. A corner kick by Granados was headed in hard by Lynnt Audoor at the first post, 1-0 after half an hour.
Club's youngsters had smelled blood. First, Granados slammed a free kick beautifully into the top corner, resulting in an equally beautiful save by Merckx. But a few minutes later it was all over. Again the Spanish playmaker with the assist, Furo put in his first of the afternoon in the short corner. And not much later another flowing attack followed, via Lenn De Smet the ball reached Furo and he slid the 3-0 under Merckx. In between, De Corte picked out a super reflex 1-on-1 with Van Aerschot. Books ready at halftime for Lokeren-Temse?
The second half was less attractive. We saw more duels and more fouls. With Wylin we did get a debutant at Club NXT U23. Shortly after his appearance he missed a great opportunity to push the fourth goal against the ropes. Finally, a goal did fall in the closing stages of the match. The other Audoor, Sem, was able to put the 4-0 on the board after poor defending by Lokeren-Temse in their own sixteen. The last goal chance was still for Club NXT U23. Pérez came alone in front of the Lokeren goalkeeper, but he hit Merckx.
It remained 4-0, a great result to open the league. The next match is a trip to the other promoted team La Louvière. Meeting on Saturday, August 24 at 8 p.m.
Club NXT U23: Axl De Corte, Sem Audoor, Jano Willems, Kader Yameogo, Amine Et-Taïbi, Lenn De Smet (84' Jesse Bisiwu), Lynnt Audoor, Liam De Smet, Tobias Lund-Jensen (65' Siebe Wylin), Kaye Furo (77' Daniel Perez), Alejandro Granados (84' Benjamin Faraas). Bench: Argus Vanden Driessche, Laurens Goemaere, Shandre Campbell, Renzo Tytens, Jessi Da Silva. Coach: Robin Veldman.
KSC Lokeren-Temse: Jelle Merckx, Naim Boujouh, Jeovanni Dianganga, Arne Cassaert, Jonas Vinck (63' Jarno Vervaque), Sebastiaan Brebels, Robbie Van Hauter (63' Toon janssen), Sam Van Aerschot, Indy Boonen (73' Olivier Myny), Gil Van Moerzeke, Mohamed Soumaré. Bench: Brent Gabriel, Allan Tshimanga, Fousseni Ouro-Sama, Cederick Van Daele. Coach: Hans Cornelis.
Goals: 31' Lynnt Audoor, 1-0, 34' and 43' Furo 2-0 and 3-0, 83' Sem Audoor 4-0.
Yellow cards: 24' Van Moerzeke, 52' Yameogo, 59' Boonen, 72' Sem Audoor, 78' Myny.
Referee: Theophile Diskeuve.
Stadium: The NEST Roeselare.
Spectators: 877