Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare maintained his impressive form for KRC Genk, scoring a goal and winning a penalty in their 2-0 victory over KAA Gent at the Ghelamco Arena on Sunday, a match that holds special memories for the forward.
The 23-year-old made his Genk debut and netted his first goal for the club in a memorable 3-2 away win over Gent in 2023, soon after joining from French side Amiens.
This latest goal puts Arokodare in a tie for the top spot on the Jupiler Pro League scoring chart alongside Adriano Bertaccini of Sint-Truidense.
Arokodare’s goal this Sunday was a well-timed right-footed shot in the 46th minute, driven into the top right corner, courtesy of an assist from Christopher Bonsu Baah.
The Lanky forward’s tenacity continued into the second half as he drew a foul from Stefan Mitrovic in the box, earning a penalty that Jarne Steuckers converted in the 58th minute to seal the win.
Stats tell the story of Arokodare’s impact
In his 78 minutes on the pitch before being substituted for Hyun-gyu Oh, Arokodare took one shot on target, with three other attempts missing the mark and one blocked. He completed 12 of his 19 passes, finishing with 63% passing accuracy.
His performance included three unsuccessful dribble attempts, 34 touches, and a big chance missed. The Genk forward’s penalty win and goal capped an influential game, contributing to his season total of eight goals and one assist in 12 appearances, where he averages around 82 minutes per game.
Genk’s victory over Gent puts them five points clear at the top of the Jupiler Pro League, ahead of second-placed Royal Antwerp FC. Gent, meanwhile, drop to fifth in the standings.
