Two weeks after AA Gent first appeared in the top four, it threatens to see the Champions’ Play-offs slip out of their hands. Unless Anderlecht makes another slip. On a visit to a furious Cercle Brugge, it even resulted in a 2-2 draw. The Association can no longer reach the top eight, but it did pay a nice tribute to the regretted Miguel Van Damme.
While there was racing in Flanders and mourning for Miguel Van Damme in Bruges, a match still had to be played in the Jan Breydel Stadium.
After the 5-0 against Charleroi, Thalhammer shook up Cercle’s starting eleven. No Denkey, Vitinho, Velkovksi or the suspended Utkus in the squad. In their place, Thalhammer chose Somers, Decostere, Sousa and Popovic. Hein Vanhaezebrouck chose what is now his strongest eleven. With Hanche-Olsen on the bench and Torunarigha in the starting line-up, and Odjidja in the front supported by the Depoitre-Tissoudali couple.
The match was barely underway when it was already 1-1. AA Gent opened the score after defending without salt at the Association. Castro-Montes played on Tissoudali, who was allowed to turn away from Da Silva Lopes and to land from Popovic: 0-1, through the legs of Warleson.
Given the circumstances, you could fear that Cercle would lose heart, but then there are still Hotic’s corners. They often go to the first zone, but even with that knowledge, Ghent let itself be caught. Popovic headed through, Somers tapped the far post. VAR also approved the goal after two minutes. The eighth goal on a corner for Cercle, the first to be dedicated to Miguel Van Damme.
Photo: BELGA
Tenth for Depoitre
However, it kept going up and down. Cercle was especially threatening via Matondo, but it was AA Gent that had opportunities. Warleson first got another try from Castro-Montes after a good play on the right with Odjidja and Depoitre. The Brazilian goalkeeper was also not surprised by a shot by the Ghent captain. On the half hour, the 1-2 fell. Odjidja, not very good in the match, opened wonderfully to Tissoudali, who scored. Depoitre had only to run in: 1-2, his tenth in the competition.
Even before half time, Odjidja had to be injured, again. The halftime score could not give the Buffalos any rest. Cercle pressed well, so that Gent did not come into his game and the sloppiness kept piling up.
Photo: BELGA
Roef in particular got away very well. With too much time and no visible solutions on a back pass, he let Matondo snatch the ball from him. Okumu turned out to be a savior by clearing the ball in front of the line. Gent seemed to need a third goal to secure the win, but it was not really dangerous. A deviated shot from Castro-Montes. A ball against Tissoudali’s post (from offside that the linesman had not yet flagged). And Tissoudali who dribbled.
On the other side it remained panicky at times, but the Ghent hands on deck seemed to have enough for a long time. Popovic headed past, substitute Denkey tapped wide. Ten minutes before the end the inevitable happened. A pass from Kums was intercepted by Vitinho, who thought Matondo was already a whole match too spry for Ghent. His cross was deviated in, again by Somers, for a transfixed Ngadeu: 2-2. Talk about a fitting tribute.
Photo: BELGA
Red Hjulsager
Five minutes later, Hjulsager received a red card from referee Laforge. Because his foot twisted in his face after a rugby grab by Da Silva Lopes when he rolled over? Debatable, but the VAR did not consider it a clear error. With ten, the visitors could do nothing more and they were lucky that Vitinho, Denkey and Daland did not score 3-2 in extra time. In the absolute final seconds, Samoise kicked the bar, albeit from offside.
While Cercle Brugge no longer stands a chance of reaching the Europe Play-offs, Ghent no longer has its fate in its own hands. Antwerp is already out of reach. Ghent lights a candle that Anderlecht will soon lose points against Charleroi or on the closing day at Kortrijk. Otherwise, the season will inevitably end in ‘those other play-offs.’ The importance of the cup final, which does entitle you to a place in the Europa League, is growing.
