Genk had the first chance in the 2nd minute, but Limbombe’s 17-metre shot took a deflection on the defenders before Ásványi claimed it. A minute later Skribek had an opportunity to score, but his attempt to lob the keeper went over the bar. The 9th minute saw Kocsis steal a ball from the visitors, but Seppe made a great save at the end of his close-range shot. Towards the end of the first half Skribek dribbled his way into the penalty area, but Seppe rushed out just in time to pick up the ball. The Belgians took the lead in the 31st minute when Nemeth finished precisely at the ned of a pinpoint pass.

Our lads shifted up a gear in the second half; Seppe had to make another save after László Papp’s free kick, then Skribek’s shot went just wide. The Belgians’ second goal came in the 43rd minute Ardjouma found the net with a flick at the end of a cross from the right wing. It was the 57th minute that brought back a glimmer of hope for us, when György Komáromi lobbed the keeper after a long ball from the back. Our boys went gung-ho, and Seppe made the save of the day after Zalán Nagy’s wonderfully taken free kick. In injury time Ásványi came forward at a corner, but it was the Belgians who got the ball and Limbombe found the empty net from over the halfway line. Thus the final whistle signalled the Belgians title and a well-deserved silver medal for us.

PHOTOS!

11th Puskás Suzuki Cup

Puskás Akadémia–KRC Genk 1–3 (0–1)

Referee: Andó-Szabó (Albert, Buzás)

Scorers: Komáromi (57.), and Nemeth (31.), Ardjouma (43.), Limbombe (61.)

Puskás Akadémia: Ásványi – Dankó, Koch, Posztobányi, Körmendi – Radics, Sipos, Kocsis (Komáromi), Magyar (Papp M.) – Skribek (Nagy Z.), Papp L. (Papp M.)

KRC Genk: Seppe – Ardjouma, Coomans (Bahadir), Leliendal, Youri – Balouk (Cappelletti), Theo (Van Rosmalen), El Basra, Limbombe – Takidine (Boujemaoui), Nemeth.

The final result of the 2018 Puskás Suzuki Cup

1. KRC Genk
2. Puskás Academy
3. CR Flamengo
4. Sporting CP
5. Real Madrid CF
6. FC Bayern Munich
7. Panathinaikos
8. Budapest Honvéd

Individual awards

Best player: Reinier Jesus Carvalho (Flamengo)
Top scorer: Andras Nemeth (KRC Genk)
Best goalkeeper: Bastians Seppe (KRC Genk)

Dream team of the tournament

Bastians Seppe (KRC Genk) – Carlos Silva (Sporting CP), Julio Rafael Escorcia (Real Madrid CF), José Ítalo (CR Flamengo) – Sipos Zoltán (Puskás Academy), Radics Márton (Puskás Academy), Félix Correia (Sporting CP), Ilias Takidine (KRC Genk) – Reinier (Flamengo), Andras Nemeth (KRC Genk), Alex Bazdrigiannis (FC Bayern Munich)