Club NXT U23 got a taste of victory again. Our youngsters came back after a strong second half. An unfortunate penalty put Blauw-Zwart on pursuit. Coach Veldman managed to trigger his men correctly and played with the right grinta and attitude in the second period. After Furo's equalizer, Campbell delightfully popped the winning goal into the far corner. Result: 1-2 win and a handsome sixth place in the standings.
After the lesser performance against Eupen, coach Veldman was counting on a reaction in and against Francs Borains. In a chilly Stade Robert Urbain, the home team tried to secure a penalty kick early in the match. Referee Vermeiren did not allow himself to be caught when Lavie went down too eagerly. In the next phase, Et-Taïbi correctly tackled Curci. After ten minutes, Curci dropped again. The home crowd wanted a penalty but the match officials again ruled the phase too light for a penalty.
After almost 15 minutes of play, Club NXT came close to Gies' goal for the first time, but Dessoleil stopped Furo. On a corner kick, Lenn De Smet headed the leather over. On the ensuing counterattack, Prunier fortunately just missed Lavie's cross. The game was stopped for minutes afterwards. Referee Vermeiren remained sidelined with injuries and was replaced by fourth official Jari Van Laere. Immediately after the restart, Furo headed a corner kick over the goal.
This was followed by a regrettable miscue at Club NXT. Just like in the Champions League match against Aston Villa, this time it was captain Et-Taïbi who unknowingly picked up the ball and delivered it to goalkeeper van den Heuvel, but our goalie had already put the ball in play. Penalty kick ruled the referee. Lavie accepted the gift and scored the 1-0. That was a bit of a bummer for Club NXT, which just got into the game better.
Francs Borains got wings from the lead and tried to double the score before halftime. Fortunately, Sem Audoor was able to defuse the ball in front of Prunier. Lavie kicked afterwards into the hands of our goalie. Afterwards, Lynnt Audoor had to leave the game injured. Some time before, he had received a firm kick on the ankle, and continued playing was no longer possible, Goemaere substituted. On the stroke of halftime, the home team almost scored: van den Heuvel pushed another Prunier effort into a corner, a great reflex from our goalkeeper. We went to rest with a 1-0 deficit.
At the start of the second half, Granados came into the team at the expense of Faraas. Club NXT came out of the locker room very eager. Granados popped straight at goalkeeper Gies. De Roeve rushed down his flank as usual and delivered a few crosses but scoring was not yet successful. Just before the hour, Blauw-Zwart came very close to the equalizer when Da Silva sent De Roeve into the lane. However, his cross was headed wide by Furo.
Club NXT pressed, and the home team struggled more and more. Wylin popped from the second line but his ball went over the goal. It was only a stay of execution. On another attack, Sem Audoor swished the ball in front of goal, where Furo was on the ball before Healy. He simply pushed the ball past Gies, finally the 1-1. Our youngsters felt there was more to come and soon after, Sem Audoor popped the ball into the side netting. On a De Roeve cross, Lenn De Smet was pushed in the back, but the referee did not award a penalty. In the rebound, Gies stopped Granados' shot.
Just before entering the final quarter of an hour, Club NXT again came close to going 1-2. Liam De Smet played to his twin brother Lenn but he incomprehensibly decided to go over. Shortly after, another penalty kick phase. Campbell was foully stopped, but again referee Van Laere did not point to the spot. A few minutes later it was a winner! Lenn De Smet was not selfish and put the ball wide to Campbell, who drove the ball with a beauty into the right cross. A gem and finally the deserved 1-2.
Afterwards, Club NXT controlled the match against a stunted Francs Borains. As a result, Club NXT climbs to a nice sixth place in the rankings and are ready to host the Futures of Anderlecht next Friday.
Club NXT U23: Dani van den Heuvel, Sem Audoor, Amine Et-Taïbi, Siebe Wylin, Denzel De Roeve, Lynnt Audoor (40' Laurens Goemaere), Liam De Smet, Benjamin Faraas (46' Alejandro Granados), Lenn De Smet, Jessi Da Silva (70' Shandre Campbell), Kaye Furo (81' Daniel Perez). Bench: Argus Vanden Driessche, Renzo Tytens, Jesse Bisiwu, Wout Verlinden, Tobias Lund-Jensen. Coach: Robin Veldman.
Francs Borains: Xavier Gies, Mathias Francotte, Jordy Gillekens, Dorian Dessoleil, Levi Malungu, (88' Maxime Alami), Corenthyn Lavie (74' Wilkims Ochieng), Matéo Itrak (74' Théo Gécé), Matthew Healy (62' Fostave Mabani), Alessio Curci, Mondy Prunier, Yanis Massolin. Bench : Clement Libertiaux, Sébastien Dewaest, Adrian Troc, Yanis Zodehougan, Patryk Walicki. Coach : Karim Belhocine.
Goals: 27' Lavie 1-0 (penalty), 62' Furo, 82' Campbell.
Yellow cards: 30' Itrak, 54' Healy, 71' Wylin, 79' Gillekens, 79' Lenn De Smet.
Refereeing: Ken Vermeiren, 22' Jari Van Laere.
Stadium: Stade Robert Urbain, Boussu.