KAA Ghent
Westerlo
- 1′ – Goal – Lucas Stassin (0 – 1)
- 19′ – Goal – Omri Gandelman (1 – 1)
- 21′ – Goal – Matias Fernandez (2 – 1)
- 34′ – Goal – Nicolas Madsen (2 – 2)
- 54′ – Yellow – Dogucan Haspolat
- 54′ – Yellow – Lucas Stassin
- 60′ – Cont. Sven Kums by Julien De Sart
- 60′ – Cont. Hong Hyun-seok by Pieter Gerkens
- 61′ – Cont. Matisse Samoise by Noah Fadiga
- 64′ – Goal – Julien De Sart (3 – 2)
- 65′ – Cont. Josimar Alcócer by Griffin Yow
- 70′ – Cont. Allahyar Sayyadmanesh by Kyan Vaesen
- 70′ – Cont. Lucas Stassin by Matija Frigan
- 75′ – Yellow – Stefan Mitrovic
- 80′ – Yellow – Ravil Tagir
- 82′ – Cont. Dogucan Haspolat by Romeo Vermant
- 84′ – Yellow – Jordan Torunarigha
- 89′ – Cont. Matias Fernandez by Franck Surdez
Jupiler Pro League – matchday 6 – 27/04/24 – 20:46
| time | icon | player | homeTime | homeIcon | homePlayer | score | awayPlayer | awayIcon | awayTime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1′ | Lucas Stassin | 0 – 1 | Lucas Stassin | 1′ | |||||
| 19′ | Omri Gandelman | 19′ | Omri Gandelman | 1 – 1 | |||||
| 21′ | Matias Fernandez | 21′ | Matias Fernandez | 2 – 1 | |||||
| 34′ | Nicolas Madsen | 2 – 2 | Nicolas Madsen | 34′ | |||||
| 64′ | Julien De Sart | 64′ | Julien De Sart | 3 – 2 |
In the Europe Play-offs, AA Gent has kept the six-point gap with first pursuer KV Mechelen intact. On Saturday evening, the Buffaloes were too strong in front of their own audience for a brave Westerlo, which had not yet been able to win in the play-offs.
Fireworks in the first half
Even before everyone had properly warmed up, Ghent was already falling behind.
Westerlo, which could play football without any complexities, started the match scorchingly. Stassin extended a shot with a clever foot into the goal.
The same Stassin was back in the right place a minute later. This time Roef had a much-needed reflex to prevent worse for the home team.
After about ten minutes, Ghent got a better grip on the match and started to create chances themselves, with success.
With two minutes left, Gandelman (he again) and Fernandez-Pardo (with the help of the Western defense) made it 2-1. We were barely 21 minutes away.
It seemed mission accomplished for Vanhaezebrouck and co. But Westerlo also proved resilient.
Bart Goor’s team remained dangerous and deservedly equalized again just after the half hour. Madsen took a high cross in a controlled manner. Roef did not stop in time and saw the ball roll under him.
With peace in sight, Ghent also got away well. Alcocer saw his shot hit the post.
De Sart as a game changer
Even after the break, Ghent had a hard time with the quick Westerlo.
The midfield led by Madsen was strong. A cannonball from Rommens was flown out of the square by Roef.
The huffing and grumbling became louder and louder. The signal for Vanhaezebrouck to intervene. Julien De Sart was allowed to play football for another half hour.
After a few minutes he tried with a low long shot. An ideal practice ball as it turned out, because a minute later it was bingo. Gillekens had no answer to his shot from the second line.
That turned out to be the death knell for the visitors. Ghent, without excelling, kept the nets clean after the break. Victory in the Europe Play-offs beckons.
Westerlo could not translate a strong performance into a point and was left empty-handed.
Phase by phase
END:3-2
A shaking head Hein Vanhaezebrouck sees his team win, but is not completely satisfied with the performance. A long shot from De Sart made the difference between the two teams in the second half.
Two more minutes. Westerlo insists one more time.
4 – extra time
An extra 4 minutes will be added.
Fernandez-Pardo makes optimal use of his speed and almost scores twice more. Gillekens stands firm and keeps his team in the running for a point.
Sydorchuck kicks towards the goal with great feeling. Roef sees the ball fly narrowly past his post.
Vermant will also join the team. Bart Goor would like to take a point.
We are in the closing quarters. What else can both teams do? At Westerlo, too, the fat seems to be a bit of a soup.
Ghent clearly wants to look for a safe fourth goal. A narrow lead is clearly not enough tonight.
Just after his substitution, De Sart immediately gives his team the lead.
The visitors are once again out of their depth and are just looking for a goal again. Watanabe arrives just in time for Stassin and is able to prevent a shot from close range.
De Sart aims for Ghent to take the lead
Now it’s a prize for De Sart! Gillekens just hands in, after which the ball quickly ends up back in De Sart’s hands. This time his long shot is prized. Gillekens sees the ball arrive too late.
Also give the other substitute, De Sart, a try. With a low and hard long shot he puts Gillekens to work for the first time this half.
Brown takes advantage of poor judgment and is able to advance down his flank. His cross reaches Fadiga at the far post, who wants to try it in one go. His attempt flies three meters wide.
The home crowd is starting to get involved. The signal for Vanhaezebrouck to intervene. De Sart and Gerkens are ready.
Roef has to fly
There’s Westerlo again! Rommens tries with a dash from a distance. Roef floats the ball out of the square.
The first notable attempt after half-time is for Westerlo. Madsen lashes out with a low cross shot. Roef taps the ball over the back line.
It is not Tarik Tissoudali’s match for the time being. The Moroccan regularly misses a check and has also been offside several times.
Halftime: 2-2
Take a rest in Ghent. After just one minute, Westerlo took the lead. Ghent had an excellent answer afterwards and went back and forth, but Westerlo also did not give up and came alongside again.
We are approaching peace. Most of the danger now comes from the visitors. Ghent has hardly been flashy. Hein Vanhaezebrouck is gloating on the sidelines.
5 – extra time
An extra 5 minutes will be added.
Just not a new lead
The post prevents Westerlo from gaining a lead! Alcocer is unlucky with his swing. On the rebound, Roef also has to float a shot out of his goal. Westerlo is simply doing very well.
It goes up and down again. First Brown heads wide, then Stassin kicks wildly over.
Westerlo is giving something back after that double setback.
Madsen with the equalizer!
Roef makes a mistake. Madsen takes advantage. The Dane calmly takes a long cross in his stride. The goalkeeper falls flat too late and sees the ball roll under him. After half an hour the score is 2-2!
The fire of the first twenty minutes seems to have gone out for a moment. Ghent opts more for the organization. Westerlo insists cautiously.
Ghent has set its sights on Europe. That is obvious. Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s team immediately moves forward again.
And it is immediately 2-1 for the home team.
2-1!
And there’s number 2! First a Westerlo player passes under a long ball, then there is an expensive misunderstanding between Gillekens and Tagir. Fernandez-Pardo takes full advantage and slides the second Ghent goal into an empty goal.
Ghent is correcting a crooked situation
Gandelman can’t stop scoring. The midfielder heads Hong’s free kick neatly past Gillekens. 1-1!
Westerlo takes an opportunistic approach and is waiting for the counterattack. Madsen is sent away well and tries with a hard shot. Roef responds appropriately.
Ghent response
Ghent straight back. Now it is Tissoudali who slips through the lines. We are looking at an exciting opening phase.
A nice combination from the home team to the edge of the sixteen. Hong’s sights are not yet focused.
Ghent is also showing itself for the first time. Tissoudali is too ambitious and crashes into a wall of defenders while dribbling.
There was Stassin again! Roef has to do everything he can to get his bet out of his cage. What a start from the visitors.
Sure. Valid goal. Stassin can celebrate his eighth of the season again.
We immediately celebrated at Westerlo.
0-1!
A dominant start by Westerlo immediately translated into a goal! Stassin extends a long shot with a cunning foot into the goal. It was borderline offside. The VAR is watching.
Kick-off!
Westerlo gets the match started.
The last time Westerlo was able to win in Ghent dates back to 2009. The trainers at the time were Preud’homme and Ceulemans. Mbaye Leye scored a goal.
The players are ready in the tunnel. Kick-off will follow in five minutes.
Madsen immediately became a regular player again
At Westerlo, Nicolas Madsen is immediately dropped back into the starting line-up after his suspension for the charade against Racing Genk. The victim of that salon draw was AA Gent, although both clubs previously smoked the peace pipe, after Ghent’s 0-3 win in Het Kuipje.
In goal at Westerlo, Nick Gillekens is preferred over Sinan Bolat for the second match in a row.
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