That will be a thriller in London. Despite the better chances, KAA Gent was unable to enforce a bonus in its first leg against a lackluster West Ham. The Buffalos fell behind after an oversight, but then showed resilience. Cuypers scored the equalizer just before the hour mark, after which Orban saw a spectacular bicycle kick explode on the crossbar. “The qualification is in for us,” said goalscorer Cuypers afterwards.
KAA Gent – West Ham United in a nutshell:
- Moment of match: in the final phase Orban did something crazy. Or something genius. At the level of the backline, he opted for an overhead kick. The goal of the tournament exploded on the crossbar.
- Man of the match: Castro-Montes had a foot in quite a few attacks from Ghent. With a ball through his opponent’s legs, he put Cuypers in position for the 1-1.
- Statistics: West Ham had won every European game this season, 10 in a row. Until Ghent called a halt to the Premier League club.
West Ham surprises Ghent with a quick throw-in
With West Ham United, a team from the Premier League visited Ghent, a team that had already won all matches in the Conference League.
KAA Gent was not impressed. The opening phase was a bit stiff, but gradually it took control.
The home team had a good period with a handful of chances, but no goals.
Five minutes before the break, Roef got away well after a miss. The VAR had seen his opponent’s hands, the 0-1 did not count.
Not much later, West Ham’s goal counted. The English took Ghent with a quick throw-in. Danny Ings only had to tap the ball in at the far post.
Cuypers rounds off a nice attack, Orban provides a spectacle
Had KAA Gent been hit? After the break it took a while before the home team got an answer together.
The answer could be there. Castro-Montes set up a one-two combination with Orban and played the ball through his opponent’s legs towards Cuypers.
He did not hesitate and scored like a real striker: 1-1.
Ghent got away well when Bowen was given too much freedom in the center. Roef reduced the corner well and forced the Englishman to miss.
In the final phase, Orban did something crazy. Or something genius. At the level of the large backline, he opted for an overhead kick. The ball landed right on the crossbar.
This could have been the goal of the tournament.
Immediately after his stubborn attempt, Orban made way for Tissoudali’s European seasonal debut. The attacker just missed his return with a goal. He aimed next.
In the extra minutes, the referee misjudged a tackle by Ghent defender Piatkowski. He sent the Pole off the field, after the intervention of the VAR he realized his mistake.
Next week KAA Gent will play the return in London. The semi-finals are still an option for the Belgian cup winner.
Cuypers: “Qualification is in it for us”
“There was more to it,” thinks goalscorer Hugo Cuypers. “We have to go to London with every hope of qualifying.”
“We have shown that we are at least the equivalent of West Ham. If we take our chances there, qualifying is certainly in it for us.”
Cuypers made his fifth of the season in Europe. “That ball went in nicely”, he says, “but it is above all a collective achievement.”
Vanhaezebrouck: “Now the players will also believe in it”
Hein Vanhaezebrouck also has high hopes for a good outcome next week in London.
“I already had a lot of faith that something was possible. Now my players will also be aware of it”, thinks the coach of KAA Gent.
“West Ham lost their last home game 5-1 and now leader Arsenal is coming to visit. If they lose that match, it really has to be against us. Otherwise, the home crowd will grumble,” Vanhaezebrouck reasons. “That should give us hope.”
Then Ghent must finish more carefully.
“We have created quite a few chances: 20 in total, although only 3 or 4 on target. That is not enough,” says the coach.
“We have to grab those moments. Hugo Cuypers does that.”
VAR calls ref back: no red and no penalty for Ghent in the end
Tissoudali is still close to 2-1
Hot position for the English goal
Bad luck! Sublime bicycle kick from Orban hits the crossbar
