- Gent 2-5 KRC Genk
Taifa Stars Captain Mbwana Ali Samatta scored a brace as KRC Genk pummeled Gent 5-2 in an all Belgium affair to gain advantage in the Round of 16 in the Europa league.
The former Simba and TP Mazembe center forward got his first and Genk’s third on the night in the 41st minute with a half volley from close range before putting the icing on the cake with another in the 72nd minute with a tap in to seal the victory.
Ukrainian Ruslan Malinovsky gave the visitors a deserved lead from a well curved free kick after 21 minutes before Gambian Omar Colley doubled the lead 12 minutes later.
Jere Uronen scored the visitors fourth at the stroke of half time while Kalifa Coulibaly and Samuel Kalu scored the hosts consolation goals.
Samatta, the former African Player of the Year – based in Africa, now has a chance to play in the last eight of the Europe’s second elite club competition as his side carries a big edge going into the return leg next week.