Union drop points against KAA Gent

The home side started with intensity, driven forward by the loud backing of our supporters. Guilherme broke through and won a corner. Mac Allister met it with a header, but could only find the roof of the net.

Gent were not in the mood to make things easy. Nobody could get on the end of an Araujo free kick, before the visitors created their best chance of the half: Kanga flicked on, Duverne picked up and crossed to the back post, but Goore could not direct his header on target, sending it half a metre wide.

Union threatened from a set piece of their own. After a challenge from Burgess, Sykes picked up the loose ball and pulled the trigger, but goalkeeper Roef got down well to make the save.

Union came out firing after the break and were almost immediately rewarded. A sublime cross from Khalaili cut through the Gent backline and found Biondic, who, from a metre out, could only head the ball straight into the hands of Roef. From the resulting corner, Sykes sent his header sailing over the bar.

Gent broke forward and Dean found himself one-on-one with Scherpen, but Khalaili tracked back to snuff out the danger. At the other end, Zorgane won possession and laid the ball off to Rodriguez, who had little space and fired wide. A slick combination between Zorgane and Khalaili then released Biondic, who forced Roef into a superb fingertip save.

In the closing stages, Union threw everything forward. Niang won a free kick just outside the box. From the resulting set piece, Florucz whipped in a cross and Sykes met it with a header, but Roef was equal to it once again.

The 4th matchday of the Champions’ Play-offs ended in a 0–0 draw. On Sunday, the Brussels derby awaits us in Anderlecht.