Genk's Premier League Cup debut ends after 95th‑minute equaliser

Under the floodlights at Middlesbrough’s Riverside Stadium on Wednesday evening, KRC Genk made their Premier League International Cup debut. The Limburg side looked set for a comfortable win until a 95th‑minute equaliser forced them to settle for a point in the match.

A mixed youth side takes on Middlesbrough

Genk travelled to England with a blend of players from Jong Genk and the U18 squad. Among the starters were Mariyan Boev, Kayden Pierre, Brad Manguelle, Zion Henry, Moussa Kone, Precious Ogbeiwi, Jelle Driessen, Dieudonné Djoully Nzoko, Kiyan Achahbar and Jonathan Coenen. The young contingent aimed to test themselves against one of the world’s strongest development competitions.

The match swung in Genk’s favour after twenty minutes when defender Kayden Pierre netted the club’s historic first goal in the tournament. His strike gave the visitors a 0‑1 lead that lingered for much of the game.

Genk created ample chances, registering twenty‑two attempts on target compared with Middlesbrough’s seven. Despite the dominance, the visitors could not convert their superiority into a larger margin.

In the fifth minute of added time, Ezra Tika‑Lemba restored parity for the hosts. The late goal meant Igor De Camargo’s side had to be content with a single point from their debut.

Technical coordinator Stijn Haeldermans explained the club’s philosophy ahead of the match. “Our boys get the chance to measure themselves against players from one of the strongest development competitions in the world,” he said in the club’s media release.

Future tests against England's elite

Genk’s schedule continues with encounters against West Ham United, Manchester United and Southampton in the coming months. The club views the demanding programme as a deliberate part of the youngsters’ education, exposing them to travel, recovery and rapid turn‑around.

The English test delivered a harsh lesson: a strong performance can be undone in the final seconds. For Genk, the experience reinforces the need to sustain intensity until the whistle, preparing the cohort for the rhythm of European professional football.