AA Gent opened the seventh matchday of the Jupiler Pro League on Friday evening with an important home victory. The Buffaloes defeated Standard Liège 2-1 to maintain their unbeaten start to the season.
Hein Vanhaezebrouck's side took the lead after half an hour of play. Josue Vergara scored the opening goal in the 31st minute. Standard equalised just before half-time through Casper Nielsen, who was assisted by Dennis Dargahi. The match seemed headed for a draw, but Christian Burgess decided the outcome in the 83rd minute. The defender headed home a cross from Tibe De Vlieger.
The three points keep Gent firmly in the title race. The club sits second in the Jupiler Pro League with 16 points from six matches. They have scored 11 goals and conceded only three. Recent form is excellent, with four wins and a draw in the last five league games. The full standings are available here.
Lineup and injury
Vanhaezebrouck had to set up his team without the injured Matisse Samoise. The midfielder is currently unavailable. The coach stated after the match that he was pleased with his team's reaction after the equaliser. He praised the mental resilience needed to still win the game.
The victory over the Rouches follows a series of strong performances. Last week, Gent drew 1-1 away at Racing Genk, where Momodou Sonko scored. Before that, the Buffaloes won 0-3 at Cercle Brugge and 1-0 against OH Leuven. The complete overview of fixtures and results is online.
Gent's next assignment is an away match against Zulte Waregem on October 10. Zulte currently sits fifth in the table. The squad and available players for that encounter can be consulted on the squad page. The Buffaloes approach that confrontation with confidence.
