It was the fierce PAOK supporters who created atmosphere in the first half with their chants, because there was little to do on the field. After an eager start by the home team, Ghent took control of the game, although this was not accompanied by a danger of goal.
Despite the dominance, Ghent got a bit warm after 20 minutes when Biseswar continued at the back line. Roef was able to prevent a great opportunity for Akpom with a good intervention on the low cross. Ngadeu had also touched the ball with his fingertips, but the protest of the home team came to nothing. Ghent got away well.
The second half had a lot more going for it. Akpom created danger early after the break, from close range he headed wide from the ground. Gent reacted with a strong bang from De Sart. Paschalakis released the ball and Castro-Montes scored in the restart, but his goal was rightly disallowed for offside.
De Sart demanded attention again a few minutes later, but this time with a clumsy foul on the sixteen. Kurtic’s free kick then deviated from Kums’ outstretched leg, leaving Roef without a chance. Gent was suddenly behind out of nowhere and due to a good dose of bad luck.
A downer for Ghent, which subsequently failed to really get PAOK into trouble. Offensively, the visitors disappointed tonight. It will have to be a lot better next week in the Ghelamco Arena to eliminate the number 2 of Greece.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck did not spare his criticism after the disappointing match in Thessaloniki. “We had complete control in the first fifteen minutes, after that it was in balance. Only our offensive players were absent today, they were not good enough,” says the Ghent coach.
“The details were against us, decisive passes did not come out. In the end this was a match that had to end 0-0, that goal should never fall. Everyone was warned about it and then we deviate the ball into our own goal.. You have to be ready and just block that ball, Sven (Kums, ed.) knows that too. Normally Sven is not there in the wall, but I have already mentioned so many times that you are not allowed to score an own goal there. get full and when you’re ready, you fill it up. This shouldn’t happen.”
“I had said beforehand that details would make the difference in our duel with PAOK and we are currently losing on details. It will be difficult now, but if we do that again and bring so little offensively again, then it is a hopeless case. This team gives little away and is firmly in the back. It will be a real assignment.”
