Videoton were very much in the game until the two late goals from the home side
The beautiful 25,000 seater Crystal Arena stadium, which is located just on the outside of Genk, was the venue for this Europa League group stage match. A good number of Hungarian supporters made the long journey to Belgium, to cheer on their side, as they continued their Europa League adventure. The game kicked off in front of a half empty stadium, with Vidi playing in their all red strip. Paulo Sousa chose an experienced and strong starting elven, which saw Torghelle play the lone front man role, with back up behind him in the midfield, in the form of Sandor, Mitrovics, Walter and Oliveira, while Toth was playing agaisnt his former team. It was the midfielder who had the first chance of the game, as Toth hit a 25 meter shot, straight at keeper Van Hout, after just 2 minutes. Sandor then passed to Mitrovics, 2 minutes later, before the ball fell to Oliveira, whose ball to Sandor was slightly too long.
The first chance for Genk came on the 10 minute mark, when Buffel went down the left hand side, before shooting low across the face of the goal. Toth then had another long range effort after 13 minutes, this time from 30 meters out, but it was collected well by Van Hout. Gorius then took a free kick from the right, which Joseph-Monrose hit at goal, but the impressive Bozsovics was equal to it. The visiting fans were making their voices heard, as they tried to support their favourite side. However, they were to see Vidi concede their first goal in European football for over 5 matches. It came after 22 minutes, following a cross on the right, after the winger went past Stopira on the outside, and his cross found the head of Vossen, who planted his header beyond the hand of the giant Vidi keeper.
Genk then had more of the ball following their opener, but did not threaten the visitors goal too much. Their most dangerous effort came after 36 minutes, with a powerful shot going over the bar. Vidi came back strongly in to the match as the half time whistle loomed. Mitrovics twice tried his luck, and he found Van Hout comfortably handling both chances. Walter then escaped down the right with a minute remaining of the first period. His cross in to the centre just failed to find Oliveria.
Vidi came out strongly in the second half, and were camped inside the Genk half for the opening 5 minutes. Torghelle played the ball back after 48 minutes, which Sandor hit first time, but it took a deflection and went wide of the post. Sandor was also thick in the action a minute later. He passed the ball in to the middle, but Van Hout collected the ball just ahead of Torghelle. Bozsovics saved a 51st minute strike from Ceulaer, while Koulibaly stormed down the left, four minutes later, before crossing it into the middle, with Vossen shooting wide of the post. Substitute Gyurcso then showed his skills on the hour mark, and his pass to Sandor ended with the midfield captain shooting from 18 meters out, but once again Van Hout confidently saved this chance. Bozsovics was fully stretch to deal with a De Ceulaer chance, to keep the score at 1-0.
Vossen also had a shot, which went into the side netting shortly afterwards, before a good reply from Gyurcso, whose poweful shot went close. Vossen headed a Brachi cross clear after 74 minutes, and it fell kindly to Mitrovics, who volleyed the ball just over. You could sense that there were more goals in the match, but unfortunately they fell to the hosts. Their second goal mirrored the first: Vossen went down the left, before hitting it to the far post, where Buffel arrived to plant his effort in to the bottom left hand corner, to make it 2-0 to Genk on the night.
Vidi put everything in to coming back in the game with 10 minutes remaining. They left gaps at the back as they pushed forward, and this allowed Genk to have two chances, with the second chance finding the back of the net. De Ceulaer got hold of the ball on the left, before doing well to find the bottom left hand corner to put the match beyond the reach of Videoton. Referee Duhamel blew for time a minute later, with Vidi losing the first group stage match, and their first loss in European football in over 6 matches. Vidi were unfortunate in not being able to level the game in the first part of the 2nd half, when they were clearly on top. They will learn a lot from this match, and will regenerate in time for the important home league match with Győri ETO on Sunday.
Author: David Rechnitzer