STVV has failed to reduce tension in the Europe Play-Offs. The Canaries missed too many chances, while AA Gent surprisingly took the lead just before half time. After the break, the Buffaloes survived the Truiense rush and Mitrovic decided the game with a striking header. Football is sometimes terribly unfair, STVV now also knows.
Naturally, all spotlights among the visitors were focused on basic debutant Mokio (16), who, according to insiders, recently applied for his ‘release’ from the KBVB. The negotiations between the Buffalos and ‘team Mokio’ are still ongoing, but this way the Ghent super talent is keeping his options open. The first notable opportunity belonged to the home team, but Bocat kicked Koita’s cross high over and wide.
Moments later the ball hit the spot when De Sart brought down the broken Zahiroleslam. Koita claimed the ball, but there is Roef in goal at Ghent and then you know it. The Ghent goalkeeper stopped the eleven meter and in the restart Steuckers decided to cross. Koita hoped to quickly make up for his miss, but when he took his chance from 25 meters, Roef stood firm again.
Mokio experienced a few anxious moments before halftime and when Steuckers rushed at him, the youngster from Ghent breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the ball go past. Ghent gradually tried to change course and when Gandelman served the deep Tissoudali, an excellent save from Suzuki was needed. On the other side, Roef also had to work hard again when Steuckers painted the ball on Zahiroleslam’s head.
Photo: Dick Demey
The biggest miss of the first half ultimately came from the Buffaloes: Tissoudali made the run after Ito lost the ball, but after some wrangling in front of the Truiense goal, Surdez incomprehensibly decided to shoot wide. Ghent really had a hard time before half time with the Canaries, once again playing very frivolously, but STVV still went into half time with a deficit: an otherwise mediocre Surdez reached Tissoudali and he remained icy calm: 0-1.
A cold shower for the enthusiastic home team, who had an excellent chance to equalize immediately after the break: Godeau appeared alone in front of Roef during a corner kick from Steuckers, but the ex-Buffalo missed the opportunity. Steuckers also soon had a unique opportunity to rebalance the score, but he decided on Watanabe who threw himself into the path of the ball.
Exit Mokio, Mitrovic decides the game
For Mokio, his – ultimately not very convincing – basic debut ended before the hour mark. After a sprint, the young defender lay there shaken with cramps from fatigue, Vanhaezebrouck took no risks and brought Agbor. Fernandez-Pardo then came to relieve Surdez and the ex-Lille striker immediately demonstrated his sprint speed once again. Godeau stood there and watched, but saw how Suzuki easily managed to keep the Ghent substitute from scoring.
However, STVV did not give up and the visitors had their hands more than full with storms Zahiroleslam and Koita. Offensively, the Buffaloes barely came close to Suzuki, but when Samoise kicked a corner, Mitrovic immediately headed the 0-2 against the ropes. Painfully efficient Buffalos who, thanks to Malinwa’s loss of points, are also heading unthreatened to a final victory in the Europe Play-Offs. Ghent can gradually prepare for the all-decisive jump-off duel.
Sint-Truiden line-up: Suzuki, Janssens, Smets, Godeau, Vanwesemael (80′ Barnes), Delorge, Ito (80′ Bertaccini), Bocat (86′ Kaya), Steuckers, Zahiroleslam and Koita
AA Gent line-up: Roef, Mitrovic, Watanabe, Mokio (59′ Agbor), Samoise, De Sart, Hong, Brown, Gandelman (88′ Gerkens), Surdez (59′ Fernandez-Pardo) and Tissoudali
Goals: 44′ Tissoudali 0-1, 86′ Mitrovic 0-2
Yellow cards: De Sart, Bocat, Kaya
Red cards:
Referee: Simon Bourdeaud’hui
Tags: STVV forgets reward Roef Tissoudali give Gent moderately flattering victory Buffalos lead
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