Unemployed Westerlo loses without a chance on its own field against leader AA Gent

The final match of the regular competition against Racing Genk with all the fuss surrounding it had not yet been fully digested in both camps. The supporters handed out some verbal jabs and on the field Madsen was perhaps tackled a little harder than usual, but all in all it remained fairly fair.

Then the sporting aspect. For twenty minutes, Westerlo still gave the illusion that it could make a match against AA Gent. The Buffaloes did have the initiative, but that did not result in much goal danger. Defensively, Westerlo did well in the opening phase, even getting the first big chance of the match through Frigan.

However, a weak header could not worry Roef. The Croatian record transfer will have the opportunity to gain confidence in the play-offs after a difficult season, so you have to do more with such opportunities.

Kempen chaos

Then the visitors would be much more efficient. In just two minutes they won the match simply and coolly. Westerlo fell back into his bad habits at the back. Goals conceded on a cross, it had happened so many times this season. So now twice in quick succession. Brown twice threw the ball in front of goal on the left, first Gandelman and a little later Tissoudali took advantage of the Kempen chaos in the sixteen.

Westerlo then fell one step short everywhere, but escaped worse before half time. A shot from Fernandez-Pardo ended up on the top of the crossbar, a falling leaf from De Sart fluttered wide. Bolat breathed a sigh of relief, the former AA Gent player had been beaten.

The last Kempen hope – however small given the value ratios – to still make it a match, was single-handedly crushed by Haidara. The Ivorian was given a starting place for the first time since his blunder match against Anderlecht, but it didn’t get much better than that Sunday evening in December. The 18-year-old defender did not go free with the two goals conceded and was allowed to take a shower after just 35 minutes, after two unnecessary yellow cards. Maybe it’s best to let it ripen a little longer.

After the break, not entirely illogically, the pace disappeared from the match. With one man less, Westerlo tried to limit the damage – with Neustädter for Sayyadmanesh, an offensive player was sacrificed for an extra defender.

Theatrical dive

A penalty kick sparked the fire in ‘t Kuipje for a while. Referee Wim Smet placed the ball on the spot after Tissoudali theatrically dived over the outbound Bolat in the sixteen. Not much going on, and so after a VAR intervention, Smet ended up reconsidering his decision – but to the great dissatisfaction of a gesticulating Vanhaezebrouck.

In the six minutes of added time, Gandelman deepened the score even further. His seventh goal in three games for the Israeli – punishment! Fortunately, it was a warm spring evening for AA Gent goalkeeper. After an almost unemployed first half, he only had to take action for the first and only time after the break in the 89th minute. Stassin hit the ball straight at the Ghent goalie.

The play-offs have only just started, but in Westerlo they will not be sad that it will soon be the end of May. The last victory dates back to February 16, 2-1 against Standard. Six defeats and one draw followed. AA Gent started its assignment with six out of six faults. Without having to press the accelerator hard, it once again highlighted who is the favorite in the battle for the last European ticket.