AA Gent triumphs over KV Mechelen in hyper-efficient fashion, securing final win in European playoffs

For the home team, coach Hasi announced last week after a 3-0 home win against OH Leuven that he would be looking for other places after this season. But there was no slackening in Malinwa. The home players started in earnest and were even caught by two fouls in the opening minute. So Grinta is the trump card.

But it was Ghent who appeared to threaten Thoelen three times through Tissoudali and Torunarigha. If they win, they could therefore be sure of the final victory in these European games. Malinwa hoped to create some tension by reducing the six point gap.

For Bassette, the game was over after just ten minutes. After a sprint with Watanabe, the striker suffered a hamstring injury and Slimani was still allowed to appear. Moments later, the home team’s poor start was completely erased when Hairmans put the ball beautifully into the net. The home fans could not enjoy this lead for long because when Garananga misjudged Hong’s ball, it was a piece of cake for Tissoudali to offer Fernandez-Pardo the equalizer (1-1 ).

Photo: Isosport

The game now went back and forth surprisingly, with Ghent’s defense not entirely reliable. With a high cross from Mrabti, Brown let Slimani run away in his back and then you know: 2-1 and the Buffaloes could run again. Quickly to the other side where Tissoudali took on the role of reporter again, but this time Samoise ran the ball high over Thoelen’s cage.

A few minutes later, Thoelen himself intervened when the local defenders gave Tissoudali too much space again. Just before halftime, the former Buffalo goalkeeper had to give up. Hong sent a free kick and Thoelen hit Garananga, allowing Mitrovic to deposit the ball into an empty net. Despite a strong protest from the home team, Boterberg conceded the goal. Exactly, as the pictures showed.

Ghent lead at half time

The visitors struck even for the third time as, deep into first-half extra time, Tissoudali took full advantage of an upset stage. The Ghent striker kept his cool and left Thoelen with no chance and the Buffaloes went into the dressing room with a lead. When Ghent came back on the field, two substitutions appeared to have been made. Gerkens and Nurio – fit again after suffering a muscle injury at the African Cup of Nations – came on to relieve Brown and Fernandez-Pardo.

Nevertheless, Ghent had the first chance after the break, but Mitrovic’s header hit the post. Mechelen escaped and immediately attacked again, boldly and freely. Malinwa developed some pressure, but Hasi’s troops were not able to put together any real chances to play football so quickly. So the viewing value of the second half was significantly lower than before half time.

Photo: BELGIAN

Pflücke and Bafdili also appeared in place of Hairmans and Storm. Ghent dominated the football but hardly appeared close to Thoelen. Tissoudali – under Hong’s guidance – put his nose to the window from time to time, but as the second half wore on, the visitors were increasingly opting for more bang for their buck and increasingly limited the risk in their game.

Then Hasi threw his last trump cards on the table and brought in Lauberbach as an additional striker. In vain because when Hjulsager appeared – for the first time in 2024 – the Dane scored a goal with an amazing long shot and immediately decided the European playoffs. Malinwa hit the crossbar again through Slimani, but in the end he was sent against the canvas.

Download the album KV Mechelen: Thoelen, Walsh (85′ Bolingoli), Garananga, Bates, Foulon (85′ Lauberbach), Mukau, Schoofs, Mrabti, Hairemans (69′ Picks), Bassette (16′ Slimani) and Storm (69′ Bafdili)

Series AA Ghent: Roef, Mitrovic, Watanabe, Torunarigha, Samoise, De Sart, Gandelman, Brown (46′ Nurio), Fernandez-Pardo (46′ Gerkens), Hong (83′ Hjulsager) and Tissoudali (93′ Depoitre)

Objectives: 19 ‘Hairemans 1-0, 25’ Fernandez-Pardo 1-1, 33 ‘Slimani 2-1, 42’ Mitrovic 2-2, 49 ‘Tissoudali 2-3, 86 ‘Hjulsager 2-4

Yellow cards: Walsh, Foulon

Red cards:

Referee: Jan Boterberg