PAOK Edges Out Ghent in Tense Frist Leg
The atmosphere at the Toumba Stadium was electric, fueled by the passionate PAOK supporters. While the opening minutes saw Ghent take control, the first half lacked genuine scoring opportunities.
Ghent’s dominance was nearly shattered in the 20th minute when a defensive lapse allowed PAOK’s Biseswar to break through. A timely intervention by Ghent goalkeeper Roef, aided by a touch from Ngadeu, prevented a certain goal for Akpom. Despite PAOK’s protests, the referee deemed the play legal.
The second half exploded into action. Akpom came close to opening the scoring early on, narrowly missing a header from close range. Ghent responded with a powerful shot from De Sart, which Paschalakis parried. The rebound fell to Castro-Montes, who slotted the ball home, but the goal was correctly ruled offside.
Just minutes later, De Sart was again in the thick of the action, this time committing a clumsy foul inside the penalty area. Kurtic stepped up to take the free kick, which deflected off Kums’ outstretched leg and left Roef helpless. The unexpected goal put Ghent on the back foot.
Despite the setback, Ghent struggled to create meaningful chances against a resolute PAOK defense. Their offensive performance was underwhelming, leaving them with a mountain to climb in the second leg.
Vanhaezebrouck criticizes Ghent’s Lackluster Attack
Ghent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck was visibly frustrated after the match, criticizing his team’s lackluster attacking display.”We controlled the game initially, but our forwards were simply not good enough tonight,” he stated.
Vanhaezebrouck highlighted the importance of fine details, emphasizing that Ghent’s inability to execute decisive passes ultimately cost them. “This should have been a 0-0 draw,” he lamented. “The goal we conceded was avoidable. Everyone was aware of the danger, yet we deflected the ball into our own net. Sven (Kums) knows he shouldn’t have been in the wall, but I’ve stressed repeatedly that own goals are unacceptable. You need to be alert and block the shot.”
Looking ahead to the second leg,Vanhaezebrouck acknowledged the challenge facing his team. “We are losing on details at the moment,” he admitted. “If we repeat this performance and fail to create chances, our chances of progressing are slim. PAOK is a tough opponent, defensively solid and difficult to break down. It will be a real test.”
Deconstructing the PAOK-Gent Tie: An Interview with Former Defender Michael Dawson
The first leg of the PAOK-Gent Europa Conference League tie was a tightly contested affair. While PAOK emerged victorious, the 1-0 scoreline doesn’t entirely reflect the ebb and flow of the match.
To gain a deeper understanding of the tactical nuances and key moments, I sat down with former Premier League defender Michael Dawson, who possesses wealth of experience playing at the highest level.
mark Driver (MD): Michael, thanks for joining me today. LetS dive straight into the match. Manny felt Ghent controlled the early proceedings. Did you see it that way?
Michael Dawson (MD): Yeah, I agree. ghent pressed high, moved the ball quickly, and made life tough for PAOK at the start. They certainly looked the more composed side in the opening 20 minutes.
MD: Then came that near miss for PAOK. Biseswar nearly capitalized on a defensive lapse. what were your thoughts on Ghent’s defending in that situation?
MD: It was sloppy, to be honest. A mistimed tackle and a lack of interaction left Biseswar open. Luckily for Ghent,Roef was alert enough to make the save,but that could have easily been a goal.
MD: The second half was a completely diffrent story, wasn’t it?
MD: Absolutely! Both teams came out with renewed intensity. PAOK looked more threatening going forward, while Ghent still struggled to create clear-cut chances.
MD: The turning point was undoubtedly Kurtic’s goal. It seemed somewhat fortuitous, deflecting off Kums into the net.
MD: Definitely a moment of misfortune for Ghent. Kums will be disappointed. He shouldn’t have been in the wall in that position. You need to be more disciplined in those situations,especially at this level.
MD: Ghent’s coach, Vanhaezebrouck, expressed his frustration with his team’s lackluster attacking performance. Do you think his criticism was fair?
MD: I think it was justified. Ghent relied heavily on long balls and lacked creativity in the final third. They created very few genuine opportunities. Against a well-organized defense like PAOK’s, that’s not going to be enough.
MD: Going into the second leg, what are ghent’s chances of overturning the deficit?
MD: It’s going to be an uphill battle.PAOK has a crucial lead and the home advantage in the return leg.Ghent needs a monumental performance to progress. They have to be more clinical in front of goal and find a way to break down PAOK’s stubborn defense.
We’d love to hear your thoughts on the match! Do you think Ghent can make a comeback? Leave your predictions in the comments below!
