AA Gent barely kept its chances intact in the Conference League. After a weak first half against Latvian Rigas, Gent only woke up after the break. It could still pull out a draw, but has yet to enforce the decision in Latvia next week.
Led by an industrious Tissoudali, Ghent started well against the Latvians of Rigas. The home team monopolized the ball, but that did not lead to real opportunities.
On the other hand, it was. After a nice Latvian cross pass, Okumu simply let Santana ring. The Brazilian served striker brother Lemajic, who dropped the ball into an empty goal.
It was not long to wait for a response from Ghent. Tissoudali made a good turn in the Latvian sixteen, but then decided to go too central on goal. A mistake that Ghent paid in cash.
Santana got too much space and then painted the ball on Simkovic’s head. The Austrian held a sleeping Opera simply and headed the 0-2 past a hopeless Bolat.
Ghent corrects the crooked situation after the break
Gent came out of the dressing room better, but was lucky that it did not become 0-3 shortly after the break. After a rehearsed number, Bolat saved Lemajic’s attempt in extremis on the line.
Not much later it was on the other side of the price. Oladoye got the ball on the edge of the box and controlled the connection goal.
With the well-subbed Odjidja between the lines, the home team pushed Rigas more and more against its own sixteen. The Latvians gasped and 15 minutes before the end the spring broke with the visitors.
Tissoudali set up the attack himself and received the ball back from Depoitre after a long drawn-out one-two. The Dutchman remained calm and brought Ghent alongside again. Everything to redo in the Ghelamco Arena.
The home team was still looking for the winning goal, but bit its teeth on the stiff Letten. Yet Malede still had the 3-2 at the foot in the ultimate final, but the substitute saw his shot burst on the post.
Gent will go to Latvia next week with a 2-2 draw and will have everything but dry land.
When Ghent advances to the last preliminary round of the Conference League, it will meet the winner of the game between Rakow Czestochowa and Roebin Kazan. With a 0-0 in the first leg, nothing has been decided in that poster either.
Vanhaezebrouck: “Once again not a good start to the match”
“We cannot be satisfied with the result. You have also heard that from the public. But I also heard the public react positively in the second half,” Hein Vanhaezebrouck reacted after the game.
“It gives a different feeling than if you let the opponent come back (such as 2-2 against Beerschot, ed.). But it did not have to come to this against this team. We knew that they had certain qualities and that we had to start well. , and we haven’t done that again,” the Gent coach continued.
“Now we conceded a goal in the first 10 minutes after a very weak defense. Also with the second goal we were tapped out too easily on the wing.”
“In the second half we went for it. We are lucky that the away goals no longer count. It is 0-0, so we now have to pull the sheet to us in Latvia. If necessary with a penalty series.”
“It will be the same game as today, but hopefully we can eliminate our mistakes”, Vanhaezebrouck concluded.
Bolat: “No excuses now”
Tarik Tissoudali:
“In principle it wasn’t difficult, but we gave away two easy goals. We just have to win here. We were the better team. We made it difficult for ourselves. Fortunately we were able to straighten it out a bit.”
Sinan Bolat:
“This is frustrating. I think I’ve only seen three balls and two go in. We were warned to be careful with their front stature.”
“We had to start strong, because we missed that against Beerschot, and yet we fall for it again. We must not look for excuses now. We must quickly fine-tune the organization. Every time falling behind and coming back is not obvious.”
From 0-1 to Rigas FS:
Rigas doubles the lead:
Oladoye’s connecting goal:
Tissoudali’s equalizer:
