KAA Gent escapes disgrace in Iceland thanks to gift Orban’s hat trick | UEFA Europa Conference League 2023/2024

Key moment: In minute 68, Vanhaezebrouck makes a double substitution. Tissoudali and Hong are on the field for exactly one minute when they, together with Gerkens, set up a clever attack that results in Orban’s 2-3.

Man of the Match: Gift Orban won Ghent with a hat trick and was logically allowed to take the match ball. The Nigerian striker finally seemed to be the killer of last season and is once again making a serious claim for a starting spot in the coming weeks.

Remarkable: For the 5th match in a row, Ghent scores at least 3 goals. Of those 5 games, they only kept a clean sheet once. So spectacle is guaranteed at the Buffalos.

The Icelandic freezing cold caused Hein Vanhaezebrouck a lot of headaches for the party. Would the mat be playable and could Ghent easily distance itself from Breidablik, which on paper was much inferior, in difficult circumstances?

Unwarranted concern, it soon seemed, because after just 6 minutes Gift Emmanuel Orban headed the Buffaloes into the lead. On cruise control again towards a big and simple victory?

Nothing could be further from the truth. In 2 crazy minutes, Ghent completely relinquished its lead before half time. Svanthorsson took advantage of weak defending twice and made the Icelanders dream.

Ghent wanted to, but did nothing at all in the first half. Then intervene, Vanhaezebrouck thought. Kums remained in the dressing room, Julien De Sart came between the lines as captain and had to steer the Genste ship in the right direction again.

A golden change, because after just under 10 minutes in the second half, De Sart sends an excellent free kick towards the far post. Cuypers seems to be able to score, but is knocked down incorrectly. The penalty that follows is a piece of cake for Orban.

But Vanhaezebrouck has even more rabbits in his top hat. In minute 68, Tissoudali and Hong enter the field and less than a minute later the score is 2-3 on the scoreboard.

Hong sets up the attack, Gerkens sends a great through ball and Tissoudali provides the assist for Orban’s third goal.

Ghent finally takes the lead again. And despite a very weak final quarter and a few more chances for Breidablik, they would not let it go. Literally and figuratively, an evening of shivering in the Icelandic cold.