K.R.C. Genk secured a dominant 4-0 victory over SK Beveren in the Jupiler Pro League. The Limburg-based side made quick work of the match at the Cegeka Arena, leading 2-0 after less than twenty minutes of play.
This performance, reported by Sporza Voetbal, firmly plants Genk in the upper echelons of the league table. The club currently sits in fourth place with seven points from four games and a goal difference of plus four. They trail leaders Club Brugge by just two points.
How did the match unfold?
The home team started aggressively. Within ten minutes, Genk was awarded a penalty after a foul by Slegers on El Ouahdi. Referee Verbeke confirmed the decision following a VAR review. Durosinmi coolly converted the spot-kick, continuing his streak with his fourth goal in as many league matches. Just ten minutes later, Ito doubled the lead following a defensive error by Brüls. Josué Kongolo made it three before halftime, scoring for the second consecutive week.
After the break, Genk maintained the pressure. Bibout hit the post in the 72nd minute. The fourth and final goal came from Kayembe, who beat goalkeeper Schenk after getting past Gomis. At the other end, keeper Lucca Brughmans did not have to make any difficult saves against a weak Beveren side that offered little attacking threat.
What did the managers say afterwards?
Genk coach Jess Thorup was pleased with his team's response. "This is the reaction I was hoping for. We could have scored even more today, but especially that clean sheet makes me very happy," said the Dane. On the other side, SK Beveren coach Tim Bakens was less content. He pointed to the early turning point: "The first penalty moment is an early turning point in the match. That was bitter and we also conceded the second goal too easily."
Where does Genk stand in the league?
The win represents a significant step forward for Genk. With twelve goals scored and eight conceded, they have built a solid goal difference. This stands in stark contrast to the start of last season, when the team fell behind in each of their first seven home matches. This year it happened in the first home game, but the team showed resilience by coming from behind to beat Westerlo two weeks ago. The away match against Antwerp, where a 1-4 lead was surrendered, now seems to be in the past.
For a complete overview of the standings and the team's statistics, you can visit our standings and stats pages.
What does this mean for the coming weeks?
The next test for Genk is an away match against RSC Anderlecht on September 6th. Anderlecht currently sits tenth, offering Genk a chance to solidify their position near the top. Jess Thorup's squad appears to be in form, with multiple players showing scoring ability. The coming weeks are important to maintain their connection with the leading pack. You can view the full schedule on our fixtures page.
