MECHELEN –
The first match ball was immediately the right one for AA Gent. Mechelen took the lead twice before half time, but very efficient Buffalos still went to rest with a 2-3 bonus. After the break, Malinwa was no longer able to cause problems for the visitors, so the visitors can immediately prepare for the jump-off duel that will decide the last European ticket.
For the home team, coach Hasi announced last week after the 3-0 home win against OH Leuven that he will be looking for other places after this season. Yet there was no slackening at Malinwa. The home players started very eagerly and were even caught with two fouls in the opening minute. So Grinta is the trump card.
Yet it was Ghent that soon appeared threatening for Thoelen three times via Tissoudali and Torunarigha. If they won, they could therefore gain certainty about the final victory in these Europe play-offs. Malinwa hoped to create some tension by halving the six-point gap.
For Bassette, the match was over after just ten minutes. After a sprint with Watanabe, the striker suffered a hamstring injury and Slimani was still allowed to appear. A little later, the poor start of the home team was completely erased when Hairemans drove the ball beautifully into the net. The home fans could not enjoy that lead for long because when Garananga misjudged a through ball from Hong, it was a piece of cake for Tissoudali to offer Fernandez-Pardo the equalizer (1-1).
Photo: Isosport
The game now really went back and forth wonderfully, with Ghent’s defense not being entirely reliable. With a high cross from Mrabti, Brown simply let Slimani run away in his back and then you know: 2-1 and the Buffaloes could chase again. Quickly to the other side where Tissoudali again took on the role of reporter, but this time Samoise chased the ball high over Thoelen’s cage.
A few moments later, Thoelen himself intervened when Tissoudali was again given too much space by the local defenders. Just before half time, the ex-Buffalo keeper had to give in. Hong sent a free kick and Thoelen collided with Garananga, allowing Mitrovic to deposit the ball into an empty goal. Despite the fierce protest from the home team, Boterberg allowed the goal. Rightly so, as the images showed.
Ghent lead at halftime
The visitors even struck a third time because deep into added time of the first half, Tissoudali took full advantage of a confusing phase. The Ghent striker remained cool and left Thoelen without a chance and the Buffaloes went into the dressing room with a lead. When Ghent came back onto the field, two substitutions appeared to have been made. Gerkens and Nurio – fit again after sustaining a muscle injury during the African Cup of Nations – came to relieve Brown and Fernandez-Pardo.
Nevertheless, the first chance after the break was Ghent’s own, but Mitrovic’s header hit the post. Mechelen escaped and immediately attacked again, boldly and freely. Malinwa did develop some pressure, but Hasi’s troops were no longer able to put together real opportunities to play football so quickly. The spectacle value of the second half was therefore considerably lower than before half time.
Photo: BELGA
Pflücke and Bafdili also showed up as replacements for Hairemans and Storm. Ghent limited itself to control football but hardly appeared near Thoelen. Tissoudali – on Hong’s instructions – occasionally put his nose to the window, but as the second half progressed, the visitors increasingly opted for more money for their money and increasingly limited the risk in their game.
Hasi then threw his last trump cards on the table and also brought in Lauberbach as an extra striker. In vain because when Hjulsager made his appearance – for the first time in 2024 – the Dane scored with a wonderful long shot and immediately decided the Europe play-offs. Malinwa hit the crossbar again via Slimani, but was ultimately KOed against the canvas.
KV Mechelen line-up: Thoelen, Walsh (85′ Bolingoli), Garananga, Bates, Foulon (85′ Lauberbach), Mukau, Schoofs, Mrabti, Hairemans (69′ Pflücke), Bassette (16′ Slimani) and Storm (69′ Bafdili)
Line-up AA Ghent: Roef, Mitrovic, Watanabe, Torunarigha, Samoise, De Sart, Gandelman, Brown (46′ Nurio), Fernandez-Pardo (46′ Gerkens), Hong (83′ Hjulsager) and Tissoudali (93′ Depoitre)
Goals: 19′ Hairemans 1-0, 25′ Fernandez-Pardo 1-1, 33′ Slimani 2-1, 42′ Mitrovic 2-2, 49′ Tissoudali 2-3, 86′ Hjulsager 2-4
Yellow cards: Walsh, Foulon
Red cards:
Referee: Jan Boterberg
Tags: Hyperefficient Gent wins Mechelen secures final victory Europe playoffs Jupiler Pro League
-
){kind=link}