Gent goalkeeper Davy Roef saved a penalty from Thierry Ambrose in the closing minutes to secure a 1-0 victory over bottom-placed Kortrijk, walfoot.be reported.
The decisive stop prevents Gent from dropping points against the league’s basement side after a fading second-half performance, according to walfoot.be.
Roef has now stopped 16 of the 48 penalties he has faced in his career, maintaining a 33% save rate, walfoot.be reported.
“I stop 33% of the penalties,” Roef said, as reported by walfoot.be. “So there is still a 66% chance that the ball ends up in the back. It is not that easy.”
Roef credits his success to extensive video study conducted with goalkeeping coach Bart Van Tornhout, walfoot.be reported.
“The preparation, as well as the hours and time that Bart and I devote to it, are paying off once again,” Roef told Het Nieuwsblad, according to walfoot.be.
That study allowed Roef to anticipate Ambrose’s kick, walfoot.be reported. “I knew he wasn’t the type to wait for the goalkeeper,” Roef said, according to walfoot.be. “So I could leave a little earlier than usual.”
Gent manager Rik De Mil praised his goalkeeper’s dedication following the narrow victory, walfoot.be reported.
“As a coach, this gives me more confidence when there is a penalty against us and Davy is in goal,” De Mil said, according to walfoot.be. “He works very hard during the week in order to prepare himself optimally and he is briefed in the smallest details.”
De Mil also acknowledged the team’s dip in performance after a dominant first half, walfoot.be reported. “Every team goes through a more difficult period during a season, where everything becomes a bit more complicated,” De Mil said, according to walfoot.be.
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