Tolu Arokodare continued his impressive goal-scoring form, but it wasn’t enough to save KRC Genk from a disappointing 2-1 defeat against Club Brugge in the first leg of their Belgian Cup semifinal.
Despite giving Genk an early advantage, the Nigerian forward watched as Brugge turned the game around, putting Genk’s cup dream in serious jeopardy, Footballrover reports.
Arokodare’s early strike not enough to keep Genk’s cup dream alive
After failing to score in his previous two matches, Tolu Arokodare quickly made his mark by opening the scoring in the 28th minute.
The goal, his 13th of the season, shows his sharp form and attacking instincts as he easily tapped in a well-timed cross from the right flank after beating his marker.
However, Genk’s lead was short-lived. Club Brugge responded six minutes later through Joel Ordonez, levelling the game and shifting the momentum.
The second half remained tightly contested until Christos Tzolis found the winner for Brugge in the 74th minute.
In an attempt to reignite Genk’s attack, Arokodare was substituted for Hyun-Gyu Oh, but the change failed to spark a comeback.
The loss ended Genk’s four-match unbeaten run and placed them at a disadvantage heading into the second leg.
What’s next for Arokodare and Genk after crushing defeat?
With 13 goals and 4 assists in 21 appearances this season, Tolu Arokodare remains a crucial figure for Genk.
While Tolu found the net, Super Eagles midfielder Raphael Onyedika also featured for the home team but made way for Casper Nielsen in 80th minute.
However, this setback threatens to derail their pursuit of silverware.
Genk must now regroup ahead of the decisive second leg on February 4th, where they face an uphill battle to keep their cup dream alive.
Before that, Genk returns to Belgian Pro League action against KV Mechelen on Saturday, where Arokodare will aim to inspire his side back to winning ways.
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