KAA Gent enter Zulte Waregem home for Jupiler Pro League match after international break. Before match, coach Rik De Mil no get Josué Vergara. The striker fall out during international break with Panama. De Mil talk say him return with muscle injury from national team and he no go play weekend. How long he go miss, De Mil no fit talk now. He say Gent go need find way to cover him absence.
Gent still strong. After seven league matches, dem get nineteen points, same as leader Union. The Buffalo’s want continue the strong start, so dem no want drop points at Essevee. De Mil tok say the international break good: players and staff get some days free to spend with family and friends, but dem also train hard and build physical base for busy period until winter stop. Dem play friendly and do some team building. He still want the team push again. He say dem must find solutions, show positivity and work. Frustrations no dey work. He mention injuries of Vergara and Ngom. He say na time to turn the switch and show confidence to the people wey dey available. Bashir Ngom still dey work hard, still get smile and positive. Dem operate am. Recovery go long, but he positive and dey motivate people. Samoise dey selectable again. Dem dey take right steps but go manage his minutes well.
Zulte Waregem coach Michael Beale also talk before match. Him team dey sixth for table. He say he dey very proud of wetin team dey show and sixth place na very beautiful. He call am good start, but dem must push because e feel like new start after long international break. Dem dey play against very good team wey dey share top spot, so dem must take chances in difficult league. He say last days training sharp and dem ready to fire. Dem dey take match by match and Gent game go tough. Dem must show energy on field, with stadium and fans behind dem. Dem must give fans something to support.
For the match, KAA Gent continue under steam with twenty-two points from twenty-four. Dem wait until extra time to finish Zulte Waregem, but dem still claim top spot. Essevee end match with one man less and remain with zero from nine. With eleven players, Zulte Waregem already find am hard to create real chances against Gent block. After Mbaye red card about fifteen minutes before time, e no possible to score. Michel Ange Balikwisha enjoy free role and dey everywhere. He dey involved in almost every danger. In final minutes he head 0-2 inside. Zulte Waregem after strong season start now get zero from nine. Dem no score in last three matches. One phase go stay for Zulte Waregem head. After more than ten minutes, long throw from Gent land inside Zulte Waregem box. Ementa head am backward and goalkeeper Gabriël want come catch ball. But defender Kiilerich hinder am small and he let ball slip. Cissé profit and tap 0-1 inside. Gent then fit wait. Buffalo’s get small chances, but more important dem give almost nothing away. Just before half time, Roef slip. Ball reach Mbaye, but he no fit put am inside. One blunder dem punish, the other dem no punish.
Second half, Gabriël show say him mistake no stay him mind. Him make fine save on Sonko to keep tension. But then one teammate remove tension again. Some minutes after him deflected cross almost enter, him want use sliding tackle to keep ball. But him land on Lopes Da Silva ankle and after VAR, referee send am off with red card. Gent after that get through Max Dean two good chances to finish match, but he waste dem. Still, he become decisive. For added time, he cross ball hard for front goal, where Balikwisha stand alone. He head ball under bar and set 0-2 final score. Gent jump with twenty-two from twenty-four to top. Zulte Waregem remain with zero from nine.
Brent Gabriël talk say he take full responsibility for that goal. He call and Jakob no fit comot road. Na him fault. Him say you must turn switch quick. At that moment he feel small. E no mean anything say him do good things after. That one phase stay for team and for him. Dem start well, but to collect that kind goal na heavy blow for team. Max Dean talk say e strange period. He feel okay. E seem like time to leave. He want play more important role for team. He explain to coach. E hard with wetin club want. Him hope say him go score for coming weeks because him miss big chance.
Rik De Mil talk say e be deserved win. Organisationally dem hold themselves well. Outside Davy slip, dem give little away. This kind matches no easy to win. You need maturity. But dem must kill match faster. For other matches, that one dey get punished. He dey look forward to European campaign. Dem go try get everything. Michael Beale talk say big moments no dey their side. For first half dem collect goal after mistake and dem no profit from opponent goalkeeper mistake. For second half dem get good momentum, but red card take everything away. E no be aggressive tackle. But boys give everything.
