Golden change De Sart brings AA Gent to a victory in jump-offs

Another day at the office. This is how AA Gent started its match against Westerlo, which is how it played in too long periods of the match. Too weak, too routine, with too little intensity. It literally didn’t take a minute before the Buffaloes paid that cash: a shot from Sayyadmanesh went into the goal via Stassin. Because Mitrovic had lingered, the young striker was just offside: 0-1.

We had to wait a while for a response from AA Gent, with Kums but without De Sart because he is on a suspension card. Thanks to a good save from Roef, again after an attempt by Stassin, the Buffaloes were not even immediately indebted for two goals. Hong and Tissoudali tried, but it was only after twenty minutes that the score was level again. Not coincidentally on a set piece, no one scores more often in the Jupiler Pro League than the Buffaloes. The free kick came from Hong, Gandelman’s goal, his fifth in the Europe play-offs: 1-1. Westerlo was caught too easily, but what about the 2-1, less than a minute later, with Tagir in a leading role? Gillekens, who was preferred to Bolat, shouted but the Turkish defender clumsily kicked a deep ball from Tissoudali against Fernandez-Pardo and thus neutralized his own goalkeeper. The young attacker put his fourth of the season into the empty goal: 2-1.

The lead did not inspire AA Gent, on the contrary. It won too few duels and Westerlo easily won the battle in midfield, where Ghent left a lot of space and seemed to feel De Sart’s absence. The equalizer for the visitors was deserved. Madsen, the most contested after the final phase against Genk, immediately took Rommens’ cross, Roef felt the slightly deviated ball slip under his body: 2-2. The Buffaloes were even lucky that they did not go into halftime with a deficit. Dee Alcocer, cutting inside, kicked the post, in the second chance Roef pushed Bos’ shot over his goal.

Photo: Isosport

In the second half, the leader of the Europe play-offs continued to struggle against the brunt of this ‘final round’. Roef, the only one who really performed at a high level, prevented worse by cleverly cornering attempts by Madsen and Rommens.

On the hour mark, Vanhaezebrouck was forced to intervene and bring on De Sart, just like Gerkens and Fadiga. Planned or not – he does not want to see De Sart suspended for the match at Mechelen – but it did have an immediate effect. First Fadiga aimed wide, then De Sart tested Gillekens’ fists. Four minutes after the three substitutions, they already proved to be invaluable for Ghent. De Sart hit hard from outside the box, Gillekens reacted a little too late: 3-2. Or how to appropriately celebrate a contract extension: De Sart signed a four-year contract last week.

Photo: Isosport

Westerlo, which had nothing left to win or lose, was not tempted into a salon draw this time and kept pushing. Without Roef really having to rush, things continued to tremble for Ghent, especially because Tissoudali and Fernandez-Pardo forgot to finish on several occasions. It remained 3-2.

AA Gent can crown itself ‘the best of the rest’ for the fourth year in a row next Saturday. Since equal points are the deciding factor in the regular competition, a win over KV Mechelen is enough to force a jump-off duel for Europe.

***

AA Ghent: Roef; Mitrovic, Watanabe, Torunarigha; Samoise (60′ Fadiga), Kums (60′ De Sart), Hong (60′ Gerkens), Gandelman, Brown; Tissoudali, Fernandez-Pardo (88′ Surdez)

Westerlo: Gillekens; Forest, Tagir, Piedfort, Rommens; Sayyadmanesh (70′ Vaesen), Sydorchuk, Madsen, Haspolat (82′ Vermant), Alcocer (65′ Yow); Stassin (70′ Frigan)

Goals: 1′ Stassin 0-1, 20′ Gandelman 1-1, 21′ Fernandez-Pardo 2-1, 34′ Madsen 2-2, 64′ De Sart 3-2

Yellow cards: Haspolat, Stassin, Mitrovic, Tagir, Torunarigha

Red cards: none

Referee: Brent Staessens