Racing Genk 0-2 Standard Liege: Joseph Aidoo’s flawless defence put to the test

Published on: 27 November 2017

Ghanaian international Joseph Aidoo gasped with shock as his enviable defensive record was put to the test in Genk’s 2-0 home defeat to Standard Liege in the Belgium First Division.

Before the clash, the Ghanaian had an enviable defensive record of allowing just a goal in five games capping that impressive show with a winner against giants Anderlecht.

That spirited performance has been laid to rest by Standard Liege’s Congolese defender Christian Liyundama who was closely marking the Ghanaian in terms of statistics ahead of the clash.

Before the game on Sunday, Standard had swallowed just one goal in their last four games with Liyundama at the back while Genk had five clean sheets in a row even, more punished, with Aidoo as the guard.

The game was only about the rivalry and the points at stake but also a match between two defensive powerhouses on Sunday - Joseph Aidoo at Racing Genk and Christian Luyindama at Standard.

The defensive stability at Racing Genk runs parallel with the development of Joseph Aidoo. The Ghanaian joined Genk this summer from Swedish side Hammarby.

After an adaptation period, he is now inseparable from the Genk starting eleven. He has guided the back to record five consecutive clean sheets – and against Anderlecht he even scored the winning goal.

What Aidoo is for Genk is Luyindama for Standard.

The Congolese is a granite block of 1m90. Luyindama was loaned by the Congolese club TP Mazembe to the Rouches last season, but in the meantime he has been taken over by Standard.

Luyindama, who started the season on the bench, has become a fixture in the eleven of Sá Pinto, partly due to the weak performances of Alexander Scholz.

Both players thus far have 7 goals against since the beginning of the season. Luyindama clearly conquers more balls than Aidoo (100 interceptions against 62), but the Ghanaian was slightly stronger in the air duels - Aidoo had won 78% of the duels, Luyindama is 68%.

What is more striking was that despite their 'no nonsense' playing style both players take very few cards.

Aidoo had taken only 1 yellow card after nine games, with Luyindama attracting none in ten matches.

But the statistics have tremendously shifted bin favour of the Congolese now after Sunday’s defeat at the Luminus Arena in Genk.

Aidoo has now seen 3 goals pick from their net under his guard but the good news is that the Ghanaian is undoubtedly a great addition to Genk so far.

By: Sheikh Tophic Sienu @desheikh1 on twitter

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