Everything has been decided in the Europe Play-offs, leader KAA Gent has brightened up its end of the season with an extra victory. Westerlo took the lead, but the visitors went from 1-0 to 1-3.
Westerlo – Ghent in a nutshell
Man of the match: Hugo Cuypers saw the spotlight go to a teammate in the second half of the season, so today he waited until that teammate was off the field. After Orban’s substitution, he crossed the line with an assist and goal.
Key moment: We have actually already forgotten three quarters of the second half, but fifteen minutes before the end it was Cuypers who put the game in a decisive fold. Westerlo was already working on next season at that time, understandably so.
Remarkable: Just like in the first leg, Ghent beat the Kemphanen 1-3. Even more striking, the score was also the same: in the Ghelamco Arena it was also Westerlo that took the lead before the cap season. Even more striking: … No, ok, that was it.
There wasn’t much to gain or lose in Het Kuipje today, although it took half an hour for that to become clear. Wetsterlo was more active and present, forced most of the chances.
Chadli broke the spell after twenty minutes with a soulful shot on a blowing corner from De Cuyper. With the inside of his foot he suddenly placed the leather in the furthest side net, class.
Ghent was immature until then, but hit back thanks to Hjulsager, set on the way by Castro-Montes. The Dane tried a pass towards Orban, who missed his control and gave the ball away to De Cuyper. The left back only worked away to Hjulsager, who didn’t give Gillekens a chance and kicked in hard to the keeper’s right.
Before the break, there was not much more to the game, the sun and the lack of effort being the main culprits. The break brought no extra inspiration, with two teams that still need some pressure to perform.
Orban sulks, Cuypers scores
An invisible match, that also means that you can be substituted. It happened to Gift Orban, who did not give his coach a smile worthy of a smile at his substitution on the hour.
If not from the pressure, then it depends on quality, of which Ghent has just a little more. Hugo Cuypers went for a walk in the Kempen garden, Perdichizzi forgot to walk along and allowed himself to be caught. With the left it went past Gillekens, who could perhaps have done a bit more. With his 24th, Cuypers is one more goal ahead of first pursuer Ueda.
Cuypers then got the hang of it and put substitute Tarik Tissoudali alone in front of goal. He clearly enjoys his football again, and curled past the grabbing fingers of Gillekens, who had no chance this time.
An end-of-season match, that’s for sure. Westerlo can celebrate a nice return season in first class, and just have to give up against a team with the top scorer. Ghent explodes and prepares for Europe.
2023-05-27 18:06:00
#KAA #Gent #walks #Westerlo #Hugo #Cuypers #scores #24th #season #Jupiler #Pro #League
