KAA Gent has qualified for the Conference League knockout phase after a dramatic 2-3 victory away at Hibernian. The Belgian side won on Thursday evening at Easter Road thanks to two goals in the final ten minutes, denying the Scottish hosts a historic qualification.
How did the match against Hibernian unfold?
Josué Vergara put Gent ahead in the first half. Jason Kerr equalised for the home side after the break. Felix Passlack seemed to have sent Hibernian through with a 2-1 goal in the 77th minute. But Gent fought back. Christian Burgess headed in an equaliser from a corner in the 84th minute. Just minutes later, El Hadji Seck created danger and his cross was turned into his own net by defender Miguel Chaiwa for the decisive 2-3. Hibernian had a clear chance between Gent's two late goals through Callum Wright, but goalkeeper Davy Roef made the save.
Scottish media, as cited by VoetbalPrimeur.be, reacted with disappointment. The Scottish Sun wrote: "It was particularly hard for Hibs, who played excellently for most of the second half and were on the threshold of their very first qualification for the competitive phase." They added: "For a time it seemed Edinburgh would be the stage for a real festival of European football for the rest of 2026." Hibernian was reportedly just six minutes away from a historic achievement.
What does this win mean for Gent?
The victory secures European football for Gent after the winter break. It is a significant sporting and financial success. Hein Vanhaezebrouck's team showed great character to fight back in a difficult away fixture. This achievement comes on top of an excellent start to the Jupiler Pro League season, where Gent currently sits third with nine points from three games. They have scored six goals and conceded only two.
The club must continue without two injured players. Both Hyllarion Goore and Matisse Samoise are currently sidelined, testing the squad's depth. The full state of the squad can be followed on our squad page.
What's next for Gent?
The focus now quickly shifts back to the domestic league. A home match against 17th-placed OH Leuven awaits on Sunday, 3 September. It's a chance to continue the good form and close the three-point gap to leaders Charleroi. The upcoming schedule is vital for title ambitions, and fans can view the full fixture list on our fixtures page.
The combination of European success and a strong league start creates positive momentum within the club. The coming weeks will show if Gent can maintain this form, both in Europe and in the battle for the Belgian title. The current Jupiler Pro League standings are always up-to-date on our standings page.
