After an intense internship in Dutch Venray, Club NXT U23 played a practice match against Knokke at its home ground The NEST. It was a happy reunion with former promises coach Jannes Tant who is the new coach of Knokke. Some former Club NXT players such as Vervaque, Köse, Schoonbaert and Aelterman also signed with the coastal team.
After the heavy defeat against French second division side Dunkirk, Blauw-Zwart wanted to put in a good performance against one of the best teams in the first amateur class. The first good chance of the match was from Daniel Pérez on a cross from Denzel De Roeve. Unfortunately, our Venezuelan striker was offside. Knokke played rather defensively and calmly caught Blauw-Zwart with a double defensive line. After a bad return ball by Salah, Jalloh was able to intercept the ball. Fortunately, his attempt disappeared wide of the Bruges goal. Club NXT took control of the game and a header by Goemaere was narrowly kept out of goal by goalkeeper Goblet. When goalkeeper Vroman wanted to intercept a ball quasi in midfield, Knokke was still able to conquer the ball but fortunately they could not open the score. It was a bit of a scare.
On a free kick by Club NXT, a header almost hit the goal. In the ensuing tussle, Liam De Smet was pushed to the ground, but the referee did not see a penalty. De Roeve then tried his luck with a nice long-distance shot, but his effort went just wide. Club NXT was now in full control of the game, but was unable to score. When Pérez did score in the rebound, the referee whistled a push foul on Köse just then. Shortly before halftime, Salah captured the ball on the back line and dribbled his way toward goal. His sharp shot was turned away by the Knokse goalkeeper. The last chance was again for the hard working Salah on a cross from Goemaere. The leather went just wide, keeping the 0-0 scoreboard.
Strong collective performance
At the start of the second half, Knokke replaced no fewer than 8 players. Initially they were able to exert some pressure, but no real chances were created. Only Aelterman popped high over Vroman's goal. Club NXT quickly restored the balance and went in search of the opening goal. Around the hour it worked. Pérez passed to Lenn De Smet who laid back to captain Audoor. He kicked very nicely into the upper left corner of the Knokse goal. 1-0, a deserved lead. Defender Willems in turn made himself conspicuous with a long solo through the visiting lines. However, his shot on goal was too weak to surprise goalkeeper Goblet. Pérez decorated a few more chances, but without success. De Roeve moved forward more and more. His combinations with Salah were unsuccessful at first. When Schoonbaert brought De Roeve down close to the penalty area, Salah hit the free kick beautifully over the wall into the far corner of the goal. 2-0 shortly before the end of the match. Thus Club NXT deservedly won this practice match after a sterling collective performance against a creditable Knokke.
Club NXT: Kiany Vroman, Denzel De Roeve, Jano Willems, Grady Makiolo, Alexander Vandeperre, Liam De Smet, Laurens Goemaere, Sem Audoor, Daniel Pérez, Mohamed Salah, Lenn De Smet. Bench: Henri Maton, Jonathan Foss, Mathis Labro, Maxime Wameso, William Simba, Amine Et-Taibi. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
R. Knokke F.C. (first half): Merveille Goblet, Ruben Vanraefelghem, Nils Pierre, Justin Pieters, Jarno Vervaque, Aurelien Baily, Samuel Addo, Ibrahim Köse, Leandro Rodriguez, Amadu Jalloh, Basiru Mbye.
R. Knokke F.C. (second half): Wout Meese, Brendan Schoonbaert, Louis Broché, Kevin Hebbelinck, Nils Pierre, Thijs Coninckx, Samuel Addo, Jarric Buysse, Mathieu Geeraerd, Noah Aelterman, Basiru Mbye (67' Jens Naessens). Coach: Jannes Tant.
Goals: 58' Audoor 1-0, 90' Salah 2-0.
Yellow Cards: 69' Addo, 73' Vandeperre, 89' Schoonbaert.
Referee: Robin Lefever.
Stadium: The Nest Roeselare.
Spectators: 200.