After a good first half in which the Club NXT U23 had the better chances, our youngsters fell in the second half against a more experienced Zulte Waregem. Goals by Gavriel and Vossen gave the visitors a 0-2 lead, before Lenn De Smet reduced the deficit for Club NXT. However, an unlucky own goal sealed the 1-3 end result.
Manager Nicky Hayen could count on quite some players returning from injury and players picking up match rhythm. Talbi, Sabbe, Barberá, Homma and Yameogo made the starting XI, while Mo Salah started on the bench. Bursik remained in goal, after his strong performance against Francs Borains. Many former Club players travelled to The NEST for Zulte Waregem: Vossen and Tanghe started the game, Vormer and Van Damme were amongst the substitutes.
The visitors put Club NXT under pressure immediately after the first whistle, but they didn't create any big chances. Vossen headed a long ball through to Traoré, but Bursik had spotted the danger in time and headed the ball away. Some minutes later, two efforts from the bustling Traoré went wide. The first good chance of the game was actually for Club NXT: Granados sent Talbi one-on-one with goalkeeper De Wolf. Talbi swiftly went past him, but just couldn't finish from a very sharp angle: his shot hit the post. The ice was broken for Bruges and it grew into the game. Barberá was quicker than the Waregem defence and won a corner kick. In the spell of play that followed, Liam De Smet saw his shot saved by De Wolf. Some minutes later Talbi had another chance to put Club NXT into the lead, but his shot from just outside the sixteen yard box was straight at the goalkeeper. Club's defence didn't give away any chances, apart from one long range effort by Brüls.
At the start of the second half, Lenn De Smet replaced Homma. The visitors started this half just like the first: very intensely, and they looked emphatically for the opening goal, which came in minute 49. Gavriel's first header was saved brilliantly by Bursik, but on his second attempt he managed to get the ball past the Club NXT goalkeeper: 0-1. Vossen also still got a touch on the ball, but it had already crossed the line. No goal for the former Bruges striker, but he showed himself very hungry in the second half. Bursik prevented him three times from scoring the 0-2: first after a clever chip, then in a one-on-one and lastly on a smashing volley. Club struggled to get the ball forward. A rare Blue & Black counter attack ended with a shot from Granados which dipped just over the bar. Time for some fresh blood in attack is what coach Hayen must have thought: Salah and Faraas came onto the pitch for Goemaere and Talbi. For Salah it was his first appearance after three months of injury!
The game was far from over. First, Lenn De Smet's effort from just outside the box was saved by De Wolf at full stretch. Minutes later, Jelle Vossen put his header wide from very close range. However, ten minutes before the end, Vossen eventually got his goal. He was left unmarked at the second post after a corner kick and could easily head in his eleventh goal of the season. Club NXT did not give up yet. Lenn De Smet searched for his left foot in the penalty area after a clever combination with Salah, and this time his shot hit the back of the net. 1-2 with seven minutes to go! Unfortunately, Club's hopes were short-lived. A free kick from Brüls took a deflection on Sabbe's leg and bounced into Bursik's goal. A very unlucky goal, which immediately sealed the end result: 1-3. There were still chances for more goals on both sides, but both Barberá and Machado couldn't get their efforts on target. Losing against Waregem is nothing to be ashamed of, as the team clearly has title ambitions. Nonetheless, Club NXT U23 should try to take some points at Oostende next week. The match is on Saturday at 8pm. Supporters, come with as many as possible to support Club NXT!
Club NXT U23: Joe Bursik, Joaquin Seys, Amine Et-Taïbi, Bi Kader Yameogo, Kyriani Sabbe, Liam De Smet, Laurens Goemaere, Shion Homma (46’ Lenn De Smet), Alejandro Granados (72’ Kaye Furo), Chemsdine Talbi, Victor Barbera. Bank: Axl De Corte, Jano Willems, William Simba, Sem Audoor, Bruce Deuwel, Henri Maton. Manager: Nicky Hayen.
Zulte-Waregem: Ortwin De Wolf, Lukas Willen, Rubin Seghers, Anton Tanghe, Alessandro Ciranni, Abdoulaye Traore (90+2’ Alioune Ndour), Tochukwu Nnadi (90+2’ Kevor Palumets), Modou Tambedou, Christian Brüls, Jelle Vossen, Stavros Gavriel (73’ Matheus Machado). Bank: Sef Van Damme, Arnaud Dobbels, Robbe Decostere, Ruud Vormer, Joel Bagan, Dylan Demuynck. Manager: Jonathan Silva de Oliveira Alves.
Goals: 49’ Gavriel 0-1, 80’ Vossen 0-2, 84’ Lenn De Smet 1-2, 85’ Sabbe (own) 1-3.
Yellow cards: 11’ Sabbe, 72’ Granados.
Referee: Arne De Beuckelaer.
Stadium: The Nest Roeselare.
Spectators: 1934.
