Sport

"Black page in our history books"

In football, it was a bad evening for Belgian clubs in the Europa League. Both KV Oostende and AA Gent were ousted in the third of four preliminary rounds. It was especially a shock exit for AA Gent, who stumbled in Austria against underdogs Altach. KV Oostende played a good game, but giants Olympique Marseille proved too strong.
Michaël Torfs
Vanhaezebrouck: "We missed our chances last week, when we should have won"

AA Gent had only drawn 1-all in their home game last week, and came 1-0 behind in Austria. The team didn't find its best form, was without first-choice goalkeeper Lovre Kalinic, lost star player Franko Andreijasevic through injury and was reduced to ten men shortly after the break.

Still, coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck refused to find excuses for the 3-1 shock defeat and the early European exit (also bottom photo). "We were just not good enough. This is a black page in the club's history books." AA Gent had a successful Champions League campaign two seasons ago, and scored in the Europa League last season, ousting Tottenham last spring.

KV Oostende played their first ever European home game at the coast, but failed to wipe out the 4-2 defeat in Marseille. Both teams could have scored, but no goals were to be seen in the Sluyter Arena. (photo below)

Three teams left in the race

Belgium only has 3 teams left in Europe: Cup winners Zulte Waregem are automatically qualified for the Europa League group phase starting in September, while runners-up Club Brugge have to play the final qualifying round for the Europa League, after being ousted in the Champions League third qualifying round.

Champions Anderlecht qualified automatically for the Champions League group phase.

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