Ghent, Belgium, 30 August (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – KAA Gent defeated Club Brugge 2-1 in a dramatic Gent Club Brugge derby, with substitute Ibrahima Cissé scoring the decisive goal after the visitors were reduced to ten men.
Gent took the lead through Josué Vergara in the 38th minute after creating several dangerous opportunities. Club Brugge responded quickly, with captain Hans Vanaken equalising two minutes later from Carlos Forbs’ assist, sending the teams into half-time level at 1-1.
Despite Club Brugge controlling more of the possession, Gent produced the greater attacking threat. The hosts registered 13 attempts, including eight on target, while Brugge managed eight shots, according to match statistics reported by Voetbal International.
Why did Club Brugge lose control of the match?
The major turning point arrived in the 70th minute when Forbs received a straight red card following an incident involving Gent defender Siebe Van der Heyden.
Playing with ten men placed Club under increasing pressure and allowed Gent to attack with greater freedom during the closing stages. Gent manager Rik De Mil’s substitutions also proved crucial.
Matties Volckaert had replaced Kyrell Wilson at half-time, while Cissé came on for Vergara in the 66th minute. In the 85th minute, the two substitutes combined, with Volckaert supplying the ball for Cissé to score the winner.
Gent defender Christian Burgess praised the team’s performance afterwards, telling DAZN: “We played fantastically today. This is what we train for every day.”
The match still had another disciplinary twist. Cissé was sent off during stoppage time, meaning the goalscorer who had decided the contest did not finish the match.
Why does the victory matter for Gent?
The result gives Gent an important domestic boost against one of Belgium’s strongest sides. It was also a significant reversal after Club Brugge comfortably won the previous two league meetings between the clubs, including a 5-0 victory in Bruges in May.
The Gent Club Brugge derby showed that possession alone was not enough for the visitors. Gent created more shots on target and made their numerical advantage count when the opportunity arrived.
For Rik De Mil, the impact of Volckaert and Cissé also demonstrated the value of his options from the bench, particularly during a demanding period of domestic and European football.
What will Gent and Club Brugge face next?
Gent must now build on the victory as their league campaign continues alongside European commitments following qualification for the UEFA Conference League league phase.
Club Brugge, meanwhile, must respond to the defeat and assess the disciplinary consequences of Forbs’ dismissal. The red card proved costly in Ghent and left the visitors defending with ten men during the decisive period of the match.
For Gent, the immediate challenge is turning an important derby victory into sustained league form. For Brugge, attention turns to recovering quickly and preventing one difficult afternoon from disrupting their campaign.
