With three matchdays to go, AA Gent is already certain of the final win in the Europe Play-offs. It won 2-4 at KV Mechelen, which means it can soon prepare for a jump-off duel for the last European ticket.
AA Gent had an excellent start to the Europe Play-offs. It only lost when it visited OH Leuven, so that after a 15 out of 18, it was able to be certain of the final win on the seventh match day. To achieve this, Hein Vanhaezebrouck’s team had to win on Saturday evening when they visited their closest competitor KV Mechelen.
Besnik Hasi’s team started the match excellently. Geoffry Hairemans opened the score after 19 minutes and after Mattias Fernandez-Pardo had brought the East Flemish side alongside with the first real Ghent chance (25′), ex-Anderlecht striker Slimani – substituted for the injured Bassette – headed KV Mechelen into the 32nd minute deserved lead: 2–1.
Yet it was the Buffaloes who were allowed into the changing rooms with a bonus: first, Stefan Mitrovic took advantage of a collision between Mechelen goalkeeper Yannick Thoelen and teammate Garananga (42′), a little later Tarik Tissoudali punished a loss of ball by the Mechelen defense (45′ + 4′).
In a more closed second half, KV Mechelen did develop sterile pressure, but collided with a well-organized Ghent. In the end it was Andrew Hjulsager who, after months of injuries, scored the 2-4 final score.
European jump-off duel
With the victory, AA Gent is certain of winning in Play-off 2 with three matchdays to go. It increases its lead over KV Mechelen to nine points. Even if Malinwa wins all its matches and the East Flemish lose their remaining three matches, that is not enough for Mechelen, as the final score in the regular competition is decisive if the number of points is equal.
The Buffaloes, who have now won Play-off 2 for the fourth year in a row, can prepare for a jump-off duel for the last European ticket, against the number four of the Champions’ Play-offs. If the winner of the Belgian Cup (Union of Antwerp) finishes in the top 4, the fifth of the Champions’ Play-offs will be the opponent in that European jump-off match.
