AA Gent squeezes through extra time past Cercle Brugge to the quarter finals | Croky Cup 2022/2023

AA Gent had the honor to uphold as last season’s cup winner. With Cercle Brugge visiting, that should not be too difficult a task, but nothing could be further from the truth. Davy Roef, last season’s cup hero, had to make way for Paul Nardi. Could he become Ghent’s new hero in the Croky Cup?

Although AA Gent had a dominant start to the match, once Cercle Brugge could take a decent position, the match turned. Although the away team did not have a heavy preponderance, it was able to force most of the chances in the first half. Deman even hit the post once.

Hein Van Vanhaezebrouck’s team had no answer to the high pressure from Cercle and regularly lost the ball in crucial positions. But if Hein’s men combined quickly, they could quickly book meters on the field. However, there were no great opportunities.

Rest with 0-0.

In the second half, Hjulsager was brought on for De Sart, who had already received a yellow card. He would have to infiltrate the sixteen, which he would do regularly. Moments later, the heavy artillery was even brought in in the form of Laurent Depoitre. Could the bills mean anything?

Meanwhile, Cercle Brugge continued to create opportunities. A ball on the post by Somers, a shot by Donkey two meters from the goal… And yet they couldn’t score. Nardi was great every time. A good choice by Vanhaezebrouck, as it turned out.

But again the game was stuck at a dry 0-0. Extra time was needed to put the game in a fold.

As good as Deman was in regular time, he was unlucky in extra time. He received a second yellow card after three minutes for a foul on Samoise. Cercle Brugge had to continue with 10 men.

After 109 minutes it was time. A great action by substitute Hauge ensured that Cuypers could tap in. The redemption for the supporters in the Ghelamco Arena was great. At the last minute, Fofana was able to double the score after a deflected ball on Decostere.

So the invaders were indeed at the rendezvous. A good tactical move by Vanhaezebrouck, as it turned out afterwards.

All in all, AA Gent played a mediocre match, but eventually made it to the quarterfinals.

Vanhoutte was disappointed after the game: “We had the best opportunities, but we didn’t score. Paul Nardi did a fantastic job.”

“In extra time, the second yellow card for Deman was the tipping point. I don’t know what possessed the referee to draw a yellow card for that.”

He immediately lashed out at the referees and the lack of VAR, something the coaches later came back to in the press conference.

“Since there is no VAR, you see the level of the Belgian referees. There is not much to say about that.”

“Once we had to build up from the back it was difficult. It was more difficult for some guys, easier for others. But we took on that challenge”, Vanhaezebrouck started after the game.

“In the end we looked a bit more tired. We hesitated to switch, but consultations on the bench made us wait until the end. I would have preferred to switch a little earlier.”

Vanhaezebrouck admits that the red card helped: “We shouldn’t be silly, that 11 against 10 situation pulled us through. With 11 against 11 it might have gone to penalties and I had the feeling that we would lose that penalty shootout .”