KAA Gent did a great job in the Europe Play-off. It won at home against KV Mechelen and therefore now has a four-point lead over its first competitor. STVV follows at six points and is the next opponent.
KAA Gent and KV Mechelen played in a direct duel for the lead in the Europe Play-off. STVV lost at OH Leuven on Saturday afternoon and so both teams could do a great job with a view to European football.
The Buffaloes lost last week when they visited OH Leuven, but Hein Vanhaezebrouck had no reason to change his starting eleven and therefore opted for the same players as Den Dreef. There were three new names at Malinwa: Pflücke, Mukau and Hairemans were replaced by Konaté, Bolingoli and Storm.
Goal falls from the sky in mediocre first half
Hein Vanhaezebrouck had previously thanked the fans for their support and was also counting on them in the Europe Play-off. Against Malinwa they showed up quite en masse for a Saturday evening at 8 p.m., but in the first 35 minutes they did not get their money’s worth.
© photonews
© photonews
A ball between the posts? Before that, we had to wait until it was 1-0 just before half-time, when Brown delivered a wonderful goal and Tissoudali was able to push through the center past Coucke. Immediately also the halftime score, although Fernandez-Pardo missed the rebound after a shot by Brown in front of an empty goal.
More spectacle after the break, Gandelman the inevitable
After coffee we had something more to warm us up in a rainy Planet Group Arena, where it seemed more autumn than spring. The home team had started the second half dominantly, but once again Fernandez-Pardo dropped the 2-0 and Brown found the post in his way.
However, Malinwa also threatened. Cobbaut and Storm found Roef on their way, but on the hour mark Slimani was allowed to score 1-1 from close range. The home team had once again played with fire due to a lack of efficiency.
© photonews
© photonews
However, it did come afterwards. Immediately after the 1-1, Gandelman was able to take advantage of Mechelen’s loss of ball to make it 2-1, fifteen minutes before the end, Hong removed all doubts with a clever diagonal kick.
Mechelen tried, but the Buffaloes played the match maturely. In the standings they now have four points more than Malinwa and six points more than STVV, which they will compete against Stayen in the midweek. The group win is a big step closer.
2024-04-20 19:56:00
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