Thorup rallies Genk after early Westerlo setback
On Saturday evening at the Luminus Arena, KRC Genk overturned a 0‑2 deficit to beat Westerlo 3‑2, a dramatic reversal that left the Limburgers stunned and gave Jess Thorup his side a vital morale boost. The win came after an early double lead by the hosts and a frantic second‑half surge.
Early setback for Genk
De opening match of the season saw Jess Thorup’s men fall short against Zulte Waregem, losing 2‑1 despite taking an early lead. The Genkse supporters were immediately vocal about the disappointment, and the result highlighted work needed on both ends of the pitch.
Westerlo’s quick lead
Westerlo, the Limburgers, needed a lift after a 1‑5 loss to Union on their own opening day. Against Genk they surged ahead in just 13 minutes, with Dylan Ourega scoring and a defensive mishap by Matte Smets producing an own goal, establishing a 2‑0 advantage.
“De eerste 25 minuten renden ze ons langs alle kanten voorbij,” Thorup said after the match, adding, “We forgot to defend and gave too easy chances away. Where this came from, I don’t know, because I haven’t seen it in training.”
Genk’s response came before the break, when Rafiu Durosinmi and captain Bryan Heynen each found the net to level the score. The Genkse supporters, who had expressed displeasure earlier, cheered the comeback, while Issame Charaï of Westerlo claimed the equaliser stemmed from an unjust penalty.
At the 79‑minute mark Aaron Bibout delivered the decisive strike, restoring the lead to 3‑2 and sealing the final result. “I heard many people talk about our mentality. I saw today the right mentality,” Thorup remarked, emphasizing the shift in attitude.
Heynen echoed the sentiment, saying, “I don’t read the media myself, but we were accused of lacking resilience. We knew we had to set things right.” He dedicated his goal to the late Michiel Vandeweert, who passed away on 10 August, pointing to the sky and saying, “For Michiel, that was it.”
Foto: © photonews NIEUW Ontvang meldingen bij belangrijk nieuws! Schrijf je HIER in! Volg Voetbalkrant nu ook via Google! The supporters of both clubs displayed large banners in honour of Michiel, underscoring the emotional weight of the victory for Genk and the shared respect across the league.