JPL Playoffs Round 8: Unfancied Gent stay top

By | May 18, 2015

Playoffs 1
Gent’s away from in the Playoffs has been excellent and they showed no sign of changing their habits with a 3-2 win at the Jan Breydel stadium. Obviously, Michel Preud’homme’s men are tiring after playing over 60 games but that shouldn’t detract from the job that Hein Vanhaezebrouck has done in his first season at the Ghelamco Arena. On Sunday, Gent took the lead early and kept battling to take the three points through an 87th minute goal from Benito Raman. While the experienced Sven Kums bossed midfield for Gent, they played without a recognised striker and Vanhaezebrouck’s tactics were spot on.

Hein Vanhaezebrouck - man of the moment(picture - http://www.kaagent.be/)

Hein Vanhaezebrouck – man of the moment(picture – http://www.kaagent.be/)

Nine points from their last three games of the playoffs would have made Anderlecht champions but on Sunday they could only draw with Standard. Both Anderlecht and Standard were loath to take risks and there was little service up to Aleksander Mitrovic, snuffed out by Standard’s Portuguese centre back Jorge Teixeira.

In the final game, Charleroi easily beat demotivated Kortrijk 5-2.

Club by Club

Gent: They need two points from their last two games to be champions. They are a team without genuine stars but that’s because they have never been in the spotlight. That could change. Vanhaezebrouck has shuffled his pack well and not being in Europe has helped.

Anderlecht: For some reason, Besnik Hasi’s men lacked confidence when it was most needed. They again conceded from a set piece but their biggest problem is a total reliance on Mitrovic for goals.

Club Brugge: Michel Preud’homme’s men are exhausted and the youngsters he has brought in have proved to be too inexperienced. Playing for three trophies has been too much.

Standard: They are now playing for pride. Jose Riga is on his way out. Next season will be interesting.

Charleroi: Les Carolos are still in with a chance of a European qualification and are still playing well. They have really over-achieved under Felice Mazzu.

Kortrijk: It’s all over.

Next games
Thursday: Gent-Standard; Charleroi-Club Brugge; Kortrijk-Anderlecht.
Next weekend: Anderlecht-Gent; Standard-Charleroi; Club Brugge-Kortrijk.

Last results: Anderlecht 1 Standard 1; Charleroi 5 Kortrijk 2; Club Brugge 2 Gent 3.

Standings: Gent 46, Anderlecht 42, Club Brugge 41, Standard 37, Charleroi 36, Kortrijk 33.

Player of the weekend: Sven Kums (Gent)

Playoffs 2
KV Mechelen drew with Lokeren in the first leg of the P02 playoffs final. The winner will play the team finishing fourth (or fifth in certain circumstances) in the Playoffs 1, for a place in the Europa League qualifying rounds.

Leading scorers
Mitrovic (Anderlecht) 18; Emond (Beveren) 14; Santini (Kortrijk) 14, Mujangi Bia (Standard) 14.
Assists
Patosi (Lokeren), 13; Chevalier (Kortrijk), Vazquez (Club Brugge) 12; Refaelov (Club Brugge) 11;

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *