Mark McKenzie and Genk’s hopes of reaching the UEFA Champions League group stage came to a painful ending on Wednesday evening.
The Belgian Pro League side suffered elimination from qualifying after falling to Swiss side Servette 4-1 in a penalty shootout. Genk and Servette played out a 2-2 second leg draw in Belgium, which leveled them 3-3 on aggregate after 120 minutes of play.
Servette received an early blow in the match with Enzo Crivelli being sent off after only three minutes. Genk would take advantage of the extra man as Mike Tresor scored from the penalty spot in the 28th minute to make it 1-0 on the night.
Timothe Cognat leveled for Servette in the 36th minute, keeping the sides level heading into halftime.
Genk would recapture the lead in the 51st minute through Toluwalase Arokodare’s go-ahead goal, but Servette fought back and equalized a second time, this time through Chris Bedia just after the hour mark.
After no winner could be decided in a 30-minute extra time period, the sides went to a shootout. However, it would be one that Genk and its fans would like to forget immediately.
Patrik Hrosovsky and Arokodare both missed their spot kick chances, while Servette went a perfect 4-from-4 from the spot.
McKenzie delivered a strong performance despite the defeat, logging 120 minutes, completing 95% of his passes (105/110), winning six of 10 duels, and making four interceptions. The U.S. men’s national team defender has made three starts for Genk in all competitions so far.
Genk’s European hopes aren’t over though as they will now face Greek side Olympiakos in Europa League qualifying. The Belgian side will travel to Greece for the first leg on August 10 before returning home for the second leg on Aug. 17.
BTW – I know it’s “Americans Abroad” – but there are Americans in Liga MX, so they do sort of qualify – but has anybody been watching Leagues Cup? I posited that MLS had probably moved past Liga MX this past year…and those results have certainly been borne out on the field thus far. Of the 29 teams still standing, only 10 of them are Liga MX squads. Two more Liga MX teams of the twelve that made the knockout rounds went down last night – Houston beat Pachuca on penalties…and LAFC blasted FC Juarez off the field last night 7-1 in one of the most lopsided games I’ve ever seen between Liga MX and MLS. Ugly.
If MLS and Liga MX just split their remaining matchups, only 5 Liga MX teams will remain in the Round of 16. MLS actually has an advantage here because Pumas and Queretaro play each other, so one of them is going home.
The three Liga MX heavies – Tigres, Monterrey, and Club America – are all still standing, but the others are going down in a hurry. LAFC looks like a war machine right now. Columbus has been dominant, even dealing Zelerayan. And I don’t know what anybody is going to do about Miami and Messi other than try to outscore them. Because they are going to score.
Been definitely worth a watch so far.
Three Liga MX teams went down last night. Dallas beat Mazatlan.
Miami already looks like Barcelona of the MLS. Dominant in possession flicks and tricks and blasting teams with their offensive output. Taylor and Martinez serving up dimes for Messi to finish. Would anyone be surprised if Miami not only wins this competition but the US open cup and somehow gets into MLS playoffs? I wouldn’t be surprised.