Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare netted his 20th league goal of the season, but his efforts weren’t enough to secure a win as Genk were held to a 1-1 draw by Royal Antwerp in their playoff encounter on Wednesday, dealing another blow to their title hopes.
Genk came into the match on the back of two consecutive defeats — first a 1-0 loss to Club Brugge, followed by a 2-1 setback against Union St.Gilloise — which saw them slip to second place behind Club Brugge in the standings. As such, a victory was crucial for the visitors to reestablish themselves at the top and revive their title ambitions.
Although Genk were desperate for a win, they failed to find the net in the first half and encountered more trouble after the break, falling behind in the 61st minute to a goal from Michel Ange Balikwisha.
The home side came close to extending their lead shortly after, but Tjaronn Chery’s penalty was denied by Mike Penders, giving the visitors a lifeline and renewed hope for a comeback.
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After the missed penalty, Tolu Arokodare delivered the crucial equaliser Genk had been searching for, nodding in Joris Kayembe’s cross to boost his team’s spirits. Despite the momentum shift, the visitors couldn’t find a decisive second goal and had to settle for a disappointing 1-1 draw.
The stalemate saw Genk squander a chance to return to the top of the table and now leaves them at risk of falling four points behind Club Brugge, should Brugge win against Union St. Gilloise tomorrow. On the other hand, Royal Antwerp stay in sixth place in the playoff standings with 25 points.
Arokodare, who still tops the league’s scoring chart, will be aiming to reignite Genk’s title challenge when they take on Royal Antwerp once again on Sunday, April 27.
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