Royal Antwerp II held Genk II to a 0-0 draw in a club friendly on Wednesday evening. The match took place at the Antwerp training ground as both sides continue their pre-season preparations. It was a game where chances were scarce, and neither side could find the breakthrough they had been seeking.
Genk II arrived with a recent record that suggested they would score freely. They had beaten Cabooter Ogelbeek 7-0, RWD Molenbeek 6-2, and Jong PSV 4-2 in their last three friendlies. By then, expectations were high for more of the same. To be fair, the goals did not come tonight — not even one.
The first half passed with both sides feeling each other out. There were moments where Genk II pushed forward, but the Antwerp defence held firm. And here's the thing about these friendlies: they are rarely about the result. They are about finding rhythm, testing combinations, seeing what works when the pressure is off.
Antwerp II's recent results tell a different story. They beat Lommel United 2-1 back in July 2024 and Kapellen 6-1 in August 2022. Those were older matches, but they suggest a side that has not been in the habit of grinding out draws. Tonight, however, they made it work. The old head settled them down when Genk II started to press.
The second half brought little change. Both teams had possession but failed to create clear-cut opportunities. Genk II dominated the ball but could not break through a compact Antwerp block. The stadium fell silent as the minutes ticked away, and both sides saw it out without a goal.
The statistics from the match would show possession figures that tell one story and shots on target that tell another. But the result speaks for itself: a point for each side in a game that neither side wanted to lose. It is not a statement, but it is a start.