Paul Onuachu: Genk forward can’t seem to catch Europa League break

On the one hand, Genk must be pleased by their 2-2 draw with West Ham United on Thursday evening. 

The Smurfs were able to halt the Hammers’ unblemished Europa League run, and their pair of goals ended the London side’s run of clean sheets in the competition. 

Having said that, it was an undoubtedly bittersweet encounter at the Luminus Arena, and nobody embodied this as much as Paul Onuachu, who toiled fruitlessly yet again in front of goal. 

If the towering marksman thought his strike in Genk’s 6-2 hammering of Zulte Waregem at the weekend — which ended a five-game run without scoring — would bring back some fortune in the box, he had another thing coming. 

The Belgian outfit overwhelmed their fancied visitors on home turf early doors and deservedly went in front through Joseph Paintsil after four minutes. However, missed opportunities to add to their advantage came to bite them in the back as David Moyes’ side reacted following their slow start. 

Onuachu missed a couple of presentable opportunities in the ninth and 19th minutes, heading the former straight at Alphonse Areola from a corner and somehow contriving to miss the target from the latter after a deflected cross fell to him. 

Having equally endured a dissatisfying night in the reverse fixture where he missed some chances and was punished for lax marking in the box at set-pieces, John van den Brom’s top striker has had to deal with some upsetting moments in the last two games in Europe’s secondary club competition. 

He has now gone three games without finding the back of the net in the competition since a match-winning strike in Genk’s opening game against Rapid Vienna. Missing three opportunities termed big chances in that time has somewhat played a part in the club’s inability to claim much-needed points in the competition. 

Only Olympique Lyon’s Houssem Aouar (five) has missed more clear-cut opportunities than the Nigerian (four), further highlighting how badly van den Brom’s team have missed the necessary decisiveness typical of Onuachu. 

Genk, despite their third-place standing, still have things in their hands as they sit three points behind Dinamo Zagreb in second spot and ahead of bottom club Rapid Vienna, the two sides they face in the final two rounds. 

Without a doubt, van den Brom badly needs his Nigerian marksman to come up trumps as the Smurfs strive to avoid Europa League elimination. 

---

Seye Omidiora is a passionate football writer and pundit whose deep appreciation for the beautiful game exceeds the usual. He is currently a columnist for Goal Africa and has previously written for Vital Football UK, IBCity Info and Opera News.

-----

Pulse Contributors is an initiative to highlight diverse journalistic voices. Pulse Contributors do not represent the company Pulse and contribute on their own behalf.