Black Stars winger Joseph Paintsil showcased his exceptional form by scoring twice to secure a crucial 3-1 victory for KRC Genk over Club Brugge in the Belgian Jupiler Pro League championship playoffs.
Paintsil’s stellar performance kept Genk’s title hopes alive and added momentum to their pursuit of glory.
The 25-year-old winger wasted no time in making an impact, opening the scoring in the 12th minute with a clinical finish. Genk’s early lead set the tone for an intense encounter.
Club Brugge, determined to fight back, leveled the score in the 64th minute through their captain, Hans Vanaken, who was expertly set up by Mats Rits. However, Genk refused to be deterred and swiftly regained their advantage in the 81st minute when Slovakia midfielder Patrik Hrosovsky scored a vital goal.
Joseph Paintsil then sealed the victory for Genk with four minutes remaining, netting his second goal of the match. His clinical finishing and offensive prowess have been instrumental for Genk throughout the season, as he has tallied an impressive record of 17 goals and 12 assists in 35 appearances in the Belgian top tier.
With this triumph, Genk now sits in third place on the league standings, trailing behind Royal Antwerp and Royale Union SG by just one point.
Their fate in the 2022-23 league title race will be determined in the final match of the season. Genk could potentially clinch the championship next weekend if they secure victory against Antwerp, and Royale Union fails to overcome Brugge.
Joseph Paintsil’s Black Stars teammates Denis Odoi was in action while Kamal Sowah remained an unused substitute for Club Brugge.
