KRC Genk II vs FC Eindhoven

FC Eindhoven started brightly, with both teams probing early without creating clear-cut chances. The breakthrough came from a set piece: Kevin van Veen curled a free kick from 20 metres into the top-left corner — a goal that left goalkeeper Émile Doucouré with no chance.

The Dutch Eerste Divisie side grew in confidence after taking the lead. Guus Beaumont forced a save from Doucouré with a strike from the edge of the box, and Van Veen attempted a lob from 40 metres that sailed just over. The second 30-minute period was quieter, though Van Veen missed a one-on-one chance and Mika de Jonge headed just over from a corner.

At the natural half-time break (60 minutes), FC Eindhoven led 1-0. Coach Jan Poortvliet made nine changes for the third period, leaving only Akin Özkan and Jens Elbers on the pitch.

The fresh legs paid off. After Emre Eksi fired wide from a well-worked move, Lennon Smulders curled a finish into the bottom corner in the 72nd minute to make it 0-2. That should have been the platform for a comfortable win.

The match swung decisively in the 86th minute. Shakhmurat Dauletov — a 17-year-old Kazakh-born forward playing for Genk's U19 side — pulled one back with a clinical finish. The goal gave Genk II belief, and with the unusual format leaving 30 minutes still to play, the momentum shifted entirely.

What followed was a six-minute blitz. In the 98th minute, Jonathan Coenen capitalised on a defensive error from Hyman Ali to slot the equaliser. Barely a minute later, Luc Netten conceded a penalty with a clumsy challenge in the box. Coenen stepped up, saw his spot-kick saved by substitute goalkeeper Nino Fancito, but reacted fastest to bury the rebound and make it 3-2.

Jens De Groof, a 17-year-old midfielder who signed his first professional contract with Genk earlier this year, sealed the result in the 105th minute with a composed finish — the fourth goal in the space of 19 minutes.

Jonathan Coenen (KRC Genk II) — The 19-year-old forward was the match-winner. His brace — the equaliser from open play and the penalty rebound — turned the game on its head. Coenen, who has been a regular for Jong Genk in the Challenger Pro League, showed composure beyond his years to recover from a saved penalty and score the crucial go-ahead goal.

Kevin van Veen (FC Eindhoven) — The veteran Dutch striker was the standout for the visitors in the first hour. His free kick was the finest moment of quality in the match, and he was a constant threat before being substituted at the 60-minute mark.

Shakhmurat Dauletov (KRC Genk II) — The 17-year-old's goal began the comeback. His introduction at the 60-minute mark alongside Coenen changed the dynamic of the match entirely.

Player of the Match: Jonathan Coenen — Two goals, including the equaliser and the go-ahead goal, made him the undoubted difference-maker.

The match was played over 120 minutes (4x30), making conventional per-90 stats misleading. FC Eindhoven dominated the first 60 minutes, taking a deserved 2-0 lead while limiting Genk to few chances. But the final 30 minutes told a completely different story: Genk II scored four goals while Eindhoven registered no meaningful attempts. The swing in momentum after the 85th minute was absolute — four goals in 19 minutes from a side that had been largely second-best.

The 4-2 scoreline flatters FC Eindhoven's first-half showing — the Dutch side were in total control for 90 of the 120 minutes but imploded in the decisive final half-hour.

For FC Eindhoven, this was their first defeat of pre-season after wins against UNA (3-1) and NAC Breda (2-0), and draws against Willem II (2-2), Den Bosch (0-0) and De Treffers (1-1). The manner of the collapse — surrendering a two-goal lead in 19 minutes — will concern coach Jan Poortvliet ahead of the traditional Lichtstadderby against PSV Eindhoven on Tuesday 28 July at the Philips Stadion.

For KRC Genk II, the win extends their encouraging pre-season form. Under coach Igor De Camargo, the young side followed up a 3-2 win at Eendracht Termien (22 July) with this comeback victory, showing character after a difficult first hour. The Challenger Pro League season looms, and the depth of attacking talent in this squad looks promising.

A genuine smash-and-grab from Jong Genk. FC Eindhoven were the better side for three quarters of the match but were undone by a catastrophic final 30 minutes — poor game management, individual errors, and an inability to handle the energy of Genk's teenage substitutes. The 4-2 scoreline is a fair reflection of the chaos, but not of the balance of play. For Poortvliet's side, the PSV derby on Tuesday now carries extra urgency.