Josué Vergara has stolen the hearts of AA Gent fans once again with his winning goal against Club Brugge. The 19-year-old Panamanian striker scored the only goal in the 'Battle of Flanders' and confirms his rise at the Buffaloes, as reported by sport journalist Jordi De Koninck for HLN Voetbal this week.

How did Vergara perform against Club Brugge?

Josué Vergara opened the scoring in the match against Club Brugge. He headed an assist from Tiago Araujo past goalkeeper Yann Sommer, between central defenders Lee Hanbeom and Brandon Mechele. The newspaper gave Vergara an 8 for his performance, while Club Brugge's Hans Vanaken was named Jupiler 'Man of the Match' with a rating of 6. His physical presence, standing at 1.96 meters tall, is a key asset. Teammate Christian Burgess testifies to this: "Hij pakt me op training. Ik blijf bij hem uit de buurt. (lacht) Je geraakt moeilijk rond hem." (He grabs me in training. I keep my distance from him. (laughs) It's hard to get around him.)

What is the young striker's background?

Vergara originally played for Tauro FC in Panama. His European adventure started at FK Auda in Latvia, where between March 8 and June 25 he scored 14 times in 20 league matches. He has carried that form to Gent. In eight starting appearances for the club, he has already netted three goals, including one in Europe against Hibernian. It is notable that the player has had almost no rest in the last six months, which forces the club to manage his playing minutes carefully.

Where does Gent stand in the league now?

The victory over Club Brugge fits into a strong start to the season for AA Gent. The team is currently eighth in the Jupiler Pro League with six points from two games. They have scored four goals and conceded only one, giving them a goal difference of +3. The Buffaloes are six points behind leaders Charleroi, but their recent form is excellent. The next task is a home match against OH Leuven, who sit in 16th place, on September 3. Fans can check the full schedule on our fixtures page.

Is Vergara the new Paul Onuachu?

Vergara's imposing frame invites comparisons with former Genk striker Paul Onuachu, who stands 2.01 meters tall and scored 85 goals in 130 matches between 2019 and 2023. Burgess sees similarities: "Hij heeft niet de lengte van Onuachu, maar hij doet me wel aan hem denken." (He doesn't have Onuachu's height, but he does remind me of him.) It is far too early, however, to compare him with the 2021 Golden Shoe winner after only nine appearances for Gent. The club has a rough diamond on their hands but must guide his development carefully.

What does this mean for the coming weeks?

With Josué Vergara in good form, Gent has an extra attacking option for the busy period ahead. After the match against OH Leuven comes an away game at Cercle Brugge. Additionally, six Conference League matches await this autumn. The striker could play a key role in the ambition to perform on multiple fronts. The current league situation can always be followed on our standings page. The coming weeks will show if Vergara can turn his early promise into a consistent season.