GENK, Belgium — KRC Genk rallied from an early deficit to edge ten-man Dender 2-1 in a tempestuous Jupiler Pro League clash at Cegeka Arena, with captain Bryan Heynen and substitute Kevin Nkuba delivering decisive blows that bolstered Genk’s mid-table ambitions and deepened Dender’s relegation worries.

Dender, whose gritty approach belied their place at the bottom of the table, stunned the home crowd just 10 minutes in. Benjamin Nsimba latched onto a loose ball in the box and bundled home past Maarten Vandevoordt after a defensive lapse — a rare highlight in a season marked by droughts for the visitors. Despite that early jolt, Genk gradually asserted themselves, probing patiently and forcing Dender onto the back foot.

Dender’s discipline wavered under pressure. Already booked, defender B. Fredrick was forced off at halftime as Genk ramped up their attacking urgency. Dender held firm until the first-half’s dying moments. In the 45th minute, Genk captain Bryan Heynen, orchestrating from midfield, timed his surge perfectly, meeting Jorne Steuckers’ incisive assist with a clinical finish to bring Genk level at the break.

The contest’s complexion changed decisively just after halftime. Malcolm Viltard, pivotal in Dender’s midfield, received his marching orders with a direct red card in the 55th minute after a reckless lunge — the visitors would spend the final 35 minutes a man down, and the strain began to show. Yet Dender’s resistance was dogged, with yellow cards mounting as they dug in for a precious point.

Genk’s breakthrough came late. In the 83rd minute, newly introduced Yira Sor darted down the flank and squared for Kevin Nkuba, who coolly tucked his finish home at the near post to seal the comeback. Nkuba’s energy from the bench proved a difference-maker against exhausted legs in Dender’s depleted ranks.

The visitors’ night went from bad to worse in stoppage time when D. Toshevski was shown a straight red, reducing Dender to nine and ending any hope of a late equalizer. The final whistle confirmed Genk’s hard-fought three points — a result that keeps their playoff hopes alive and heaps further misery on Dender, still winless and staring down a long winter.

This match, never short on drama or disciplinary flashpoints, will be remembered for Genk’s resilience in adversity and Dender’s combative spirit, albeit undermined by costly lapses in discipline. For full minute-by-minute match updates, see the live recap by Sports Updates by Anupam, whose coverage provided real-time details throughout the encounter.

Genk’s win pushes them upward in the race for postseason positioning, while Dender leave Cegeka Arena with little to show beyond frustration and two suspensions for their next crunch fixture.