Published
2025-08-10
Union claims win in Ghent after set piece show
In a fiercely contested match between KAA Gent and Union, the Brussels side ultimately came out on top with a 2-3 victory. All three Union goals came from set pieces. The first was scored by Leysen from a Florucz free-kick. The other two were netted by Rodríguez and Zorgane from corners. KAA Gent pushed hard in the closing stages to try and snatch a point, but their comeback came too late.
Union started the game somewhat sluggishly, allowing the first chance to fall to Gent. The visitors had a scare when Ito’s shot tested Chambaere, but the keeper produced a fine save. Shortly afterwards, the Unionists settled into the game: what seemed to be a harmless strike from Rodríguez turned dangerous when Gent goalkeeper Davy Roef misjudged it. The ball bounced back to Florucz, who had a chance to open the scoring, but Roef intervened.
Both sides created chances without finding the net, until the 27th minute when Union broke the deadlock. After a foul on Niang, Florucz stood over the free-kick. With a rehearsed routine, he struck the ball into the wall, allowing Ait El Hadj to fire. His effort met Vanhoutte’s head, who then teed up Leysen to nod home: 0-1.
Gent came out strong after the break, but once again it was Union who hit the target first. From another set piece, the Brussels side doubled their lead: Vanhoutte delivered a corner to the far post, Burgess headed it back from the byline, and Rodríguez headed in from close range: 0-2.
The Buffalos kept pushing and created several good chances, but Union struck again from a corner. Once more, Burgess headed the ball back at the far post, this time towards Zorgane, who finished with ease: 0-3.
In the closing stages, Gent clawed their way back. In the 81st minute, Goore scored the home side’s first goal. Then, deep into stoppage time, Paskotsi made it 2-3. Union, however, held firm to secure a hard-fought victory in Ghent.