Conference League. "Zorya" played a night match against "Gent" in their group stage opener

The Lugansk «Zorya» played against the Belgian «Gent» in Lublin, Poland, within the first round of groups of the Conference League.

Conference League. "Zorya" played a night match against "Gent" in their group stage opener

Photo of FC "Zorya"

We remind you that the black-and-white team entered this tournament after a departure from Czech Slavia in the Europa League play-offs. In this time, Ukrainian "Zorya" managed to change their coach — today Valery Krivetsov was in charge of his players.

The first half turned out to be poor on moments. There was a certain advantage for "Gent", particularly Tissudali broke through the goal line, and Brown tested Turbayevsky with a long-range shot. In "Zorya", Guerrero was active upfront, but the opponent's defenders handled the offside trap well.

At the beginning of the second half, Nagnoynyi broke through into the area, and Turbayevsky pulled away an unsafe shot from Keipers after a corner, after which Herkens failed to score in an empty net. On the 64th minute, Guerrero superbly ran past Gent's defenders, but his attempt went wide of the far post.

Then the teams exchanged goals. First, Keipers finished off Gulisager's cross, and then Guerrero scored in a similar fashion from Kiryukhantsev's pass. On the 82nd minute, Keipers could have made a double, but Luhansk players were saved by their defense. Later, Kums' shot from outside the penalty area forced Turbayevsky to make a save. In summary, the score remained tied — 1:1.

Conference League. Group Stage. Group V

Matchday 1

"Zorya" (Ukraine) — "Gent" (Belgium) — 1:1 (0:0)

Goals: Guerrero (70) — Keipers (67).

"Zorya": Turbayevsky, Kiryukhantsev, Bol, Jordan, Snurnitsyn, Antykh (Voloshin, 77), Yatsyk, Vantuha, Mishnyov (c) (Mitchen, 77), Nagnoynyi (Vendell, 77), Guerrero.

Substitutes: Saputin, Zhilkyn, Alefirenko, Drishlyuk, Horbach, Bugay, Churko, Danchenko.

Coach: Valery Krivetsov.

"Gent": Roff, Fadiga (Fofana, 61), Kanduss, Watanabe, Torunarigha, Herkens (Gulisager, 61), de Sart (Handelman, 61), Kum (c), Brown (Samoz, 77), Keipers, Tissudali.

Substitutes: Nardi, de Schrevel, Laga, Agbor, Igbokwé.

Coach: Hein Vanhaezebrouck.

Referee: Daniele Ciechi (Italy).

Yellow cards: Kiryukhantsev (86) — de Sart (57).

21 September. Lublin. "Lublin Arena".

"Maccabi" T-A (Israel) — "Breidablik" (Iceland) — 3:2 (3:1)

Matchday 2

05.10.2023

"Breidablik" — "Zorya" (19:45)

"Gent" — "Maccabi" T-A (19:45)