Europa League: Zakaria El Ouahdi secures decisive away win for Genk

Zakaria El Ouahdi scored twice to inspire K.R.C. Genk to a 3-1 victory over GNK Dinamo Zagreb in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League play-off, shining as man of the match in Zagreb on Thursday evening.

Genk set the tone early, with captain Bryan Heynen opening the scoring in the 15th minute with a well-placed header.

Just six minutes later, El Ouahdi doubled the lead, reacting quickly to a rebound and slotting the ball past the Dinamo goalkeeper to assert the visitors’ dominance.

Dinamo Zagreb, however, pulled one back before half-time. Dion Beljo converted a precise pass from Fran Topic in the 44th minute, narrowing the deficit to 2-1 and keeping the home side’s hopes alive.

After the break, the Croatian side sought to control possession, combining short passes and crosses in an attempt to break down Genk’s defensive structure.

Yet, the Belgian team’s organization, combined with vigilant goalkeeping from Tobias Lawal, prevented any equaliser and maintained their advantage.

In stoppage time, El Ouahdi sealed the win with a composed finish. Played through perfectly, he faced the goalkeeper one-on-one and calmly placed the ball into the bottom left corner in the fourth minute of added time, completing his brace and securing a crucial away victory for Genk.

The result gives the Belgian side a strong advantage heading into the second leg, demonstrating El Ouahdi’s ability to influence high-stakes European matches and highlighting Genk’s efficiency on the road.

The Moroccan international’s performance drew widespread praise and underscored his rising impact at continental level.