Soccer
Tolu Arokodare claimed his second brace of the season to inspire KRC Genk to a thrilling 2-2 draw at Antwerp on Boxing Day, Soccernet.ng reports.
The clash between fourth-place Royal Antwerp and leaders KRC Genk inside the Bosuilstadion in Deurne threw up all the expected fireworks as the two teams shared four goals and the points at stake.
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Dutch-born forward Gyrano Kerk drew first blood for the hosts in the ninth minute after he pounced on a fine cross from Ghana international Denis Odoi.
Arokodare responded three minutes later for Genk as the big man smashed the ball into the bottom left corner for his 12th league goal of the campaign.
While Odoi kept impressing for the home team, it was Kerk who bagged his second goal of the game in the 32nd minute when he got on the end of a Tjaronn Chery throughball to poke past goalkeeper Hendrik Van Crombrugge.
Nigeria descent Noah Adedeji-Sternberg and Arokodare had chances in the first half to pull Genk back on levelled terms before the break but they could not find their intended target.
The duo, however, found their range later and combined for the visitors’ equaliser shortly after the halftime break.
Adedeji-Sternberg set up Arokodare who did the rest by sending his left-footed finish beyond the reach of Antwerp goalie, Senne Lammens.
It was Arokodare’s 13th goal in the Belgian Pro League which sent him above Anderlecht forward Kasper Dolberg (12 goals) to the top of the division’s top goalscorer chart.
Arokodare is now enjoying his best season for Genk as he now has more league goals than the twelve he managed last term.
The 24-year-old striker’s career best tally, however, stood at 15 goals, which he set in 2020 while at Latvian club Valmiera.
At the final whistle, neither Genk nor Antwerp could net the winner as the two teams settled for a point each to maintain their positions on the league table.
Genk and Antwerp will now take a much-deserved break before they return in January to face Sint-Truiden and Union Saint-Gilloise, respectively.
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele
Imhonlamhen Eronmhonsele turns into a ball of passion when writing about Nigerian football and its talents, whether rising stars or established legends, locally and abroad.
From the deepest corners of the Middle East, to the green fields of the Americas, to the celebrated grounds in Europe, and the rich soils of Africa, Imhons is more than glad, usually with a glass of a tasty drink nearby, to capture the essence of the game, by connecting the dots between culture, identity, and football.
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