3 v 0 
Shamrock RoversDetails
| Date | Time | League | Season |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 September 2022 | 5:45 pm | UEFA Conference League | 2022/23 |
Match Report
Clinical Gent Punish Sloppy Rovers
Two goals from captain Adis Odjidja-Ofoe and Hugo Cuypers helped Gent cruise past Shamrock Rovers 3-0 at the Ghelamco Arena this evening.
Gent dominated from the off with Rovers struggling to break out from their own half due to the effective high press employed by the hosts.
Striker Hugo Cuypers went close to putting Gent ahead after three minutes when his flick on header hit the bar, catching Alan Mannus out in the process.
Indeed, it was Cuypers who got the breakthrough after nine minutes after getting on the end of a Malick Fofana flick before slotting home into the bottom left-hand corner.
Rovers continued to struggle defensively with their errors punished in the 17th minute after a defensive lapse from Dan Cleary left captain Adis Odjidja-Ofoe in acres of space to smash home a volley to make it 2-0.
The pace of the game dipped in the latter end of the first half with Rovers managing to find their footing in the possession stakes. Stephen Bradley would have been disappointed however with the lack of cutting edge in the final third.
Despite taking their foot off the pedal, it was Gent who came closest to scoring again on the stroke of halftime when Jordan Torunarigha.
Rovers made a better start to the second half and nearly got a goal back in the 52nd minute when Rory Gaffney forced an excellent save from Paul Nardi after hitting a superb volley.
The Rovers striker began to link up much more frequently with Jack Byrne who himself was inches away from scoring after his curling shot went just over the bar in the 64th.
All of their positive work was undone two minutes later when Ofoe got his second goal of the game when he nestled the ball into the right-hand corner to end the game as a contest.
Rovers to their credit kept going and created a couple of guilt-edged opportunities through Gaffney and Lee Grace.
Despite a better second half, the Airtricity league leaders were unable to break their duck as Gent eased to a 3-0 victory, leaving Stephen Bradley with plenty to ponder ahead of the trip to Molde in the next round of fixtures.
Timeline
Ground
| Ghelamco Arena |
|---|
| Ghelamco Arena, 808, Ottergemsesteenweg-Zuid, Ghent, Gent, East Flanders, Flanders, 9000, Belgium |
Sam Curtin
Sam is an avid sports enthusiast who has been working in journalism since he was 16. Along with his work, he also plays tennis and is a Government and Political Science student at UCC. Most importantly of all however is that he's from Cork.
Full time. A comfortable 3-0 win for Gent who go top of the group. A better second half from Rovers but their sloppiness cost them big time. Stephen Bradley's side travel to Molde in the next round of fixtures.
The travelling supporters to their credit are still singing as the game enters the final stages.
The game beginning to fizzle out here as Gent appear content to hold onto possession.
Sean Kavanagh booked as Kums goes off for Fortuna for Gent.
Burke, Ferizaj and Farrugia on for Finn, Byrne and
Aaron Greene gets a yellow for some handbags in the aftermath of that incident.
Bit of consternation here as Gaffney is through on goal as a Gent player goes down. Their players fell Rovers should have put the ball out but he shoots and misses from five yards out.
Lee Grace gets on the end of a Byrne corner but his glancing header goes inches wide.
Dylan Watts off for Aaron Green for Rovers.
That;s a shame. Rovers' good work is undone as Odjidja-Ofoe gets his second goal of the night as he fires the ball into the right hand corner. 3-0.
The pair link up again with Byrne's shot inches away from scoring. If they can get a goal within the next 10 minutes there could something there for them.
Jack Byrne is beginning to find Gaffney a bit more frequently and was inches away from feeding him there. Rovers definitely more creative in the second half.
Cuypers with Gent's first shot of the second half but the ball goes well wide of the right near post.
Rory Gaffney has Rovers best chance of the game so far, forcing a great save from Paul Nardi after hitting a superb volley.
Subs called into play here at the start of the second half. Sean Kavanagh is in for Chris McCann while Bruno Godeau is in for Jordan Torunarigha.
Half-time with Gent leading 2-0 at the break. The Belgians are full value for their lead against a sloppy Rovers who are once again showing an inability to play away from home.
Jordan Torunarigha takes a shot from distance which forces a good save from Alan Mannus.
The pace of the game has dipped a bit with Gent not needing to put the foot down which has given Rovers a footing into the game.
Rovers enjoying a bit of sustained possession now but are struggling in the final third.
Good play from Rovers left back Andy Lyons who wins a corner before Dan Cleary goes close to heading the ball in. Best piece of play from the visitors so far.
History is repeating itself here as Rovers just simply are a different team away from home. A long way back already with no chances created either so far.
Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe makes it 2-0 Gent. Poor defending at the back from Rovers leads to a blocked shot before the Gent captain nonchalantly fires a volley into the back of the net.
Cuypers puts Gent ahead. A wonderful ball from Hong into Fofana who flicks it into the striker who tucks the ball home into the bottom corner.
Rovers struggling to hold on to the ball at moment with Gent operating a very high press. Their two centre halves have pushed onto the half way line leaving Rory Gaffney very isolated up front.
Early pressure from Gent results in a corner. Hugo Cuypers gets a flick on which hits the bar.
Underway in Belgium.
Teams are out onto the pitch in what is a sparsely populated Ghelamco Arena.
Hello and welcome to live updates of Gent v Shamrock Rovers in the UEFA Conference League. Kick-off is at 5.45 with team news on the way shortly.