Union Saint-Gilloise clinched their first away victory of the Belgian Pro League season with a resounding 3-1 win over KAA Gent on Thursday. The match showcased stellar performances from key players and significant moments leading to the Union's success, allowing them to leapfrog Gent to fifth place in the standings.
From the onset, the match was marked by urgency, with both teams eager to establish dominance. The first significant opportunity came for Union's Franjo Ivanovic, whose strike at the 25-minute mark was denied by Gent's goalkeeper Davy Roef. A series of tense moments ensued, including Anthony Moris thwarting Gent's Archie Brown shortly after.
The turning point materialized just moments after Gent's Omri Gandelman's goal was controversially disallowed by VAR due to a handball. Capitalizing on pressing play, Ivanovic intercepted the ball before assisting Promise David, who opened the scoring for Union with confidence at the half-hour mark. This goal invigorated the visiting side and shifted the momentum firmly in their favor.
Entering the second half, Union continued their assault. A defensive error by Roef on another set-piece allowed Ross Sykes to double the lead with a header shortly after the restart. Just two minutes later, Anouar Ait El Hadj scored with aplomb—an impeccable first-time finish following Noah Sadiki’s assist, making it 3-0.
Despite being down, Gent refused to capitulate easily. Andri Gudjohnsen added intrigue to the match with his own goal from Brown's left-wing cross at the 61st minute, reducing the deficit to 3-1. The game remained frenetic, with opportunities for both sides, including missed chances for Ivanovic and Gudjohnsen later as the clock wound down.
After the match, Noah Sadiki reflected on the experience, stating, "At the moment of 0-3, we had fun and finally start to play. We knew we had to strike early, and we executed." Meanwhile, Moris expressed confidence, insisting, "The result could have been more significant; we missed chances to extend our lead. The early goal from Gent came too soon, but it's still a great result for us."
Ait El Hadj celebrated his pivotal goal, noting, "This is my first for Union; I've waited long for it. Competition is part of football, and today I think I made my mark."
Gent coach Hugo Gambor acknowledged his team lacked effectiveness after the halftime break, stressing lessons to learn from the defeat. "We started poorly in the second half, and we have to draw lessons from this," he said, noting the importance of seizing chances to change the game’s tide.
Union’s coach, Sébastien Pocognoli, praised his squad’s effort as they move closer to achieving their set goals for the season. "A couple of months ago, we aimed for the top six, the Belgian Cup qualification, and to do well on the Europa League front. Today, we achieved those goals. It takes persistent work to manage the entire group, but we’re seeing the benefits of our dedication," Pocognoli explained.
While discussions continued about the match's officiation and VAR occurrences, the focus remains on Union Saint-Gilloise's momentum as they prepare for future matches, including their next fixture on January 8 against Antwerp.
This match was not just significant for its outcome but also emblematic of Union’s progress and rising confidence as they navigate the remainder of the league fixtures.
