It does not stop at AA Gent. If the defense doesn’t even make a painful mistake, it is up to the goalkeeper to grab a ball next to it. This time Sinan Bolat also appeared to be affected by the virus that has been raging with the Buffalos for an entire season. Jess Thorup may be happy with the 1-2 victory because Genk got away very well. Due to the home defeat, AA Gent remains in thirteenth place with 9 out of 30.
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The squatter between the two worst started top clubs seemed to give birth to a draw, which Genk in particular could be happy about. Until Sinan Bolat completely misjudged a bang from Hrosovsky. The third goalkeeper in goal at Ghent – after Kaminski and Roef – is also the third who has lost points on his conscience. It became an ice-cold shower for AA Gent, which once again could blame itself for a lack of determination in both sixteen. Jess Thorup did not want to know in advance about feelings of revenge, but he got his revenge anyway. His previous employer, however, should have settled it before the break.
Coach Wim De Decker made no less than five changes after the painful defeat in Liberec. Apart from goal, where Bolat returned, Botaka, Bukari, Marreh and Kleindienst also disappeared from the team. In their place came Dorsch, Bezus, Depoitre and even Mohammadi. “I don’t know what they want to achieve with that,” laughed Genk coach Jess Thorup beforehand. “Apparently they are afraid of our right wing that they need two boys there.” Thorup, who went to greet the entire Ghent bank before the kick-off, really did not know. His ex-assistant conjured up a formation mirrored by the Genk, with three in the back and Mohammadi and Castro-Montes on the wings. The result was a stronger midfield, which was in charge of Genk for forty minutes.
Fiddling with Cuesta
AA Gent decorated no less than eight scoring chances, which resulted in a meager goal. It started with an eager Mohammadi who felt the hand of the falling Cuesta on his leg and fell. Referee Boterberg did not see a penalty, the VAR was not a clear error. After a free kick by Kums that went just wide and an inaccurate cross from Mohammadi in which the incoming Depoitre apparently injured his buttock, it was halfway the prize. Thanks also to a present from the visitors. Vukovic hesitated on a through ball from Yaremchuk, Mohammadi crossed and watched Cuesta prepare the ball for Castro-Montes: 1-0. The clumsy virus that has plagued AA Gent for a whole season in the back seemed to have spread (again) as far as Limburg. As if the Colombian wall – Lucumi and especially Cuesta – was playing football with a brick or stone in their shoes.
AA Gent forgot to elaborate on the proposal. Kleindienst, Depoitre’s replacement, headed a corner over and aimed at Vukovic. Yaremchuk also did too little with a sharp counter. De Decker’s plan worked. The ball and the duels were for a hungry Ghent. Top scorer Onuachu was not reached. The absence of the suspended Ito was also felt. His replacement Toma, also not alert at the goal against, showed himself once with a fine through ball on Bongonda. Bolat was faster on the ball, however. With peace in sight, Genk came alongside. Under pressure, Hrosovsky was able to curl the ball in front of goal. The little Bongonda, who cleverly chose position between Hanche-Olsen and Ngadeu, headed in the 1-1. Gent seemed upset for a moment and was lucky that Nurio threw himself in front of a shot from Thorstvedt and the ball just capriulated over.
Odjidja on the bar
After a more than enjoyable first half, the home audience – the audience at home in front of the TV – remained hungry. Despite switches on both sides, it never completely broke open again. Thorup’s ex-team still had the ball, but it always went wrong in the last phase. Thorup’s current team seemed unable to avert the third draw in four games. Until Hrosovsky came out with a Sunday shot. On a Monday. Again, it would not be about the points that Wim De Decker scored with his approach. Nor about the return of Vadis Odjidja, who saw the 2-2 finish on the crossbar. And injuries. With Owusu also on the way back, De Decker has to hope that Depoitre will not be out of circulation for too long. Especially with a view to Thursday when it has to try to correct the slippage in Liberec against Hoffenheim. No, how bad luck and blunders continue to plague AA Ghent: that remains the item. And how the ghost of Jess Thorup continues to float above the Ghelamco Arena. Genk is back in the left column, AA Gent remains at the bottom. Things will go well someday in Ghent, right?
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