Indonesian wonderkid Marselino Ferdinan scored his first goal for Belgian second-tier side KMSK Deinze as they saw off Virton 3-1 in Saturday night’s relegation play-off match.
Deinze, who were safe from the drop in this season’s 6-team relegation play-off mini-league, host bottom-of-the-table Virton at the Burgemeester Van de Wiele Stadion, with the away side seeking three important points to inch themselves closer to safety.
Alessio Staelens and Jannes Vansteenkiste gave Deinze a healthy 2-0 lead in the first half, before a 55th minute penalty from Souleymane Anne gave Virton a fighting chance.
However, in the 77th minute, substitute Marselino, who was introduced in half-time to replace Jur Schryvers, managed to rifle in a powerful shot that sealed all three points for Deinze. The goal came after the former Persebaya Surabaya prodigy was given far too much space within the Virton defense, allowing him to beat Anthony Sadin in the opposition goal with ease.
“I’m very grateful to be able to score my first goal for the club,” Marselino told Playasia after the match, as quoted from Bolanas, “I would like to thank the coaching staff for their constant support towards me.”
18-year old Marselino is expected to be one of Indonesia’s key players in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, as the Timnas Garuda seek to reclaim the gold medal that they’ve last won back in 1991.