Four days ago, the Luhansk team lost to Hapoel Tel Aviv (2:3). So before their away match against the Belgians, the Ukrainian side found themselves in a difficult position — only a win over Gent would have kept "Zorya" alive for qualification from the group.

In the first half, the hosts had a clear advantage. While Kepers scored just wide of the post at the start of the match, on the 20th minute Fofoan broke through from midfield to score in the far corner. Turbayevsky also had to parry shots from distance by Orban and Fofoan. Only towards the end of the half did Luhansk come close — Antykh's cross was missed by Herrera, who then shot wide.

In the second half of the match, Gent scored two more goals. First, Batagov inadvertently deflected a Fadiga cross into his own net, and shortly after Orban tapped in Fadiga’s delivery with his second touch. Later on, Handelman also found the back of Turbayevsky's goal.

The Belgians could have scored more but instead Luhansk managed to score once — Nagnoyin was able to beat the keeper from distance. In the end, Luhansk lost 1-4 and their chances for a playoff spot are now gone.

Conference League Group Stage. Group V

5th Matchday

Gent (Belgium) — Zorya (Ukraine) — 4-1 (0-1)

Goals: Fofoan (20), Batagov (49, own goal), Orban (55), Handelman (75) — Nagnoyin (82).

Gent: Nardi (Roef, 70), Fadiga, Candussi (Torunariga, 46), Watanabe, Fortuna (Tissudalí, 70), Herkens, Kums (c) (Gülçay, 59), Handelman, Fofoan (Laga, 70), Kepers, Orban.

Substitutes: Forten, Samoaz, Depuatre.

Coach: Geert Vanhaezebrouck.

Zorya: Turbayevsky, Danchenko (Horbach, 32), Jordan, Bol, Snurnytsin, Aziangbé (Nagnoyin, 62), Batagov, Churko (c) (Mishnyov, 83), Kiryukhanets (Alefirenko, 83), Herrera, Antykh (Bugay, 62).

Substitutes: Saputin, Zhilkin, Drishlyuk, Mitchen, Wendell.

Coach: Yuri Koval.

Referee: Evangelos Manouchos (Greece).

Yellow cards: Fadiga (28), Vanhaezebrouck (90+1, off the field), Gülçay (90+2) — Antykh (39), Aziangbé (42).

November 30. Gent. "Gent Arena".

Breidablik (Iceland) — Hapoel Tel Aviv (Israel) — 1-2 (0-1)

Standings

6th Matchday

December 14, 2023

Hapoel Tel Aviv — Gent (22:00)

Zorya — Breidablik (22:00)