The heavens opened up completely for the match at the Planet Group Arena. KAA Gent welcomed our Kemphanen there as leaders in the Europe Play-Offs on a soaking wet pitch that would guarantee swift ball circulation. Would it also lead to an early goal?

KVC Westerlo line-up: N. Gillekens, J. Bos, D. Haspolat (82′ R. Vermant), N. Madsen, S. Sydorchuk, R. Tagir, T. Rommens (85′ J. Bos), A. Piedfort, L. Stassin (70′ M. Frigan), J. Alcocer (65′ G. Yow), A. Sayyadmanesh (70′ K. Vaesen)

First half

An unmistakable yes is the answer to that. While some supporters were still finding their seats, Stassin swiftly diverted a shot from Sayyadmanesh past a bewildered Roef.

KVCW’s dream start almost immediately had a sequel when once again Stassin placed his foot well against a cross from Rommens, but this time Gent goalie Roef was alert.

At the quarter-hour mark, Madsen added a third chance on the scorecard for our Kemphanen, but his shot also met the fists of Roef.

However, two sharp counterattacks from the home team torpedoed our yellow shirts’ good start. First, Gandelman leveled the score with a well-placed header, two minutes later Matias Fernandez put the home team ahead.

After the rapid-fire start, the game settled into a calmer rhythm until Madsen reignited the flame by placing a cross from Rommens past Roef in one swift motion.

From then on, our Kemphanen took control again, and at times it was a delight to watch the actions that yellow-blue brought to the field. However, the post, Roef, or a Gent leg prevented our Kemphanen from going into halftime with a lead.

Second half

Even after the break, the first goal chances were for Westerlo. A low shot from Madsen was relatively easily parried by Roef, but on a shot aimed at the top corner from Rommens, the Gent goalie had to stretch fully to keep his team from falling behind.

The home team struggled, and coach Vanhaezebrouck intervened. His substitution of De Sart paid off almost immediately, as the substitute captain put the Buffalos back in the lead with a perfectly placed long-range shot 20 minutes before the end.

Interim coach Bart Goor brought in Romeo Vermant as an extra striker, but the final quarter-hour could not bring the same array of chances as the opening quarter-hour of the game. Thus, our Kemphanen went under in a rainy Gent after a more than commendable match.

Report: Glen Van Herck
Photos: Jan De Meuleneir & Tomas Sisk/Photo News