Gent 2 Genk 5: Kalu on target but fails to save the hosts in all-Belgian Europa League last-16 clash

Nigeria’s Samuel Kalu’s 27th-minute strike couldn’t save Gent from a 5-2 defeat at the hands of Genk in an action-packed first leg of their all-Belgian Europa League last-16 clash.

Gent who have five Nigerian players in their squad started with in form Samuel Kalu in the attack and Anderson Esiti in the midfield with Moses Simon and Rabiu Ibrahim only making the bench.

Genk took the lead through Ruslan Malinovskyi’s delightful free-kick in off Lovre Kalinic’s left-hand post but Samuel Kalu who has been in fine form for Gent restored parity for the hosts when he smashed in a ball from close range.

It was a well balanced first 30 minute of action between the teams who are separated by one place and two points in the Belgian First Division A log.

With 15 minutes left in the first half Genk took complete control of the tie as Omar Colley, Mbwana Samatta and Jere Uronen scored before the break, with the quality of their set-pieces and speed on the attack proving too much for Gent.

The home side had overcome the odds to knock out highly fancied Tottenham in the previous round and even this considerable deficit seemed somewhat surmountable when Coulibaly pulled a goal back in the second half.

However, Mat Ryan’s save from Perbet’s spot-kick killed their momentum and Samatta’s second after 72 minutes restored a three-goal lead for Genk heading into the return leg, while Gent’s misery was compounded by Anderson Esiti’s red card six minutes from time.

Rabiu Ibrahim and Simon Moses played part in the tie but their efforts also couldn’t save their club.

Samuel Kalu couldn’t save his club but the 19-year-old will be proud of his performance, he scored in the first half to restore parity and also won a penalty although Perbet who took the resulting penalty missed from 12 yards.