Ghent failed to miss crucial points at home to Zulte Waregem, but Roman Bezus handed victory to his side late in the game.
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The victories of RSC Anderlecht and Antwerp left La Gantoise no choice: against a lackluster Zulte Waregem, it was necessary to take the three points to stay within reach of the top 4, before the final rush. Last minute blow: Tarik Tissoudali, touched in the semi-final of the Cup, is absent, left to rest so as not to take any risks in view of the short and medium term deadlines (Europe, especially).
But these Buffalos do not need to be in full force (Castro-Montes is also absent, suspended) to take Zulte Waregem by the throat. Hjulsager, Kums, Depoitre and Malede combine with vivacity, and the Flandriens can only react against; Jelle Vossen, however, alerted Roef with a header from a good cross from Ciranni (8′). It will then go too fast for Zulte: Malede finds Hjulsager finely, who temporizes and serves Laurent Depoitre at the penalty spot (12th, 1-0).
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Zulte almost reacted, on a bad counter anticipated by Davy Roef and which allowed Zinho Gano to lob the Ghent goalkeeper… but the Flanders striker was offside. There will then be almost nothing more than for La Gantoise, with a Malede in the legs and a Hjulsager who touches the post from the right (18th), then grazes it from the left after a small technical number on Pletinckx (32nd). Vossen still worries Roef a little, once again served by Ciranni, but the men of Timmy Simons are not very lively.
As soon as the resumption, Ghent will still miss the break with a Depoitre who still stumbles in front of Roef (46th); the Buffalos will then stagnate and Zulte Waregem will snort. A big alert signed Jelle Vossen will run aground on the post (66th), and it is then this same Vossen who will deservedly punish Ghent’s apathy, following a header from Gano pushed back by Roef (1-1, 71st).
Bezus’ emotion
As often, it will take this electroshock for the “dominant” team to wake up a little: well led in particular by the excellent Jordan Torunarigha, La Gantoise reacts, but Sammy Bossut intervenes twice, in front of Depoitre, then in front of Torunarigha himself. even on the ensuing corner. Zulte Waregem will back down, and will even pass almost a 1-2 like a hold-up when Dompé forces Roef to save (89th).
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Ghent will push and we think the Buffalos are on their way to a draw that would put them 5 units from the top 4, a pit four games from the end of the classic phase. But football will offer us one of those very special moments: it is finally Roman Bezus, opportunist on yet another ball repelled by Bossut, who will offer the victory (2-1, 90th + 3), then letting a rare emotion burst in its head, and burst the Ghelamco which had applauded Ukraine before the kick-off. La Gantoise, however, had – very – hot…