GHENT, BELGIUM — Dante Vanzeir struck in first-half stoppage time to hand Cercle Brugge KSV a hard-fought 1-0 victory over KAA Gent at the Ghelamco Arena, a result that looked increasingly comfortable once the hosts were reduced to nine men in a turbulent second half. Cercle Brugge enjoyed the majority of possession at 55.2% and launched 23 shots at goal compared to KAA Gent's five, asserting their authority throughout a contest that grew increasingly fraught as the minutes ticked by.
The decisive moment arrived in the first minute of first-half stoppage time, when Vanzeir broke the deadlock to send the travelling Cercle Brugge supporters into raptures. The goal came at a psychologically crushing moment for the hosts, who had worked hard to stay level through the opening 45 minutes despite the visitors' growing dominance. Vanzeir's finish was clinical, punishing KAA Gent's defensive lapse at precisely the wrong moment and giving Cercle Brugge the platform they needed to see out the match.
The second half began with KAA Gent needing to find a response, but their task became dramatically more difficult just seven minutes after the restart. Hatim Essaoubi, who had already been introduced as a substitute in the 33rd minute, was shown a straight red card in the 52nd minute, leaving the home side with ten men. The dismissal effectively ended any realistic prospect of a Gent comeback, and the Ghelamco Arena fell into a tense, anxious silence as the home faithful contemplated what lay ahead.
With the numerical advantage firmly in their favour, Cercle Brugge pressed for a second goal and came agonisingly close in the 62nd minute when Gary Magnée stepped up to take a penalty — only to see his effort saved by the KAA Gent goalkeeper. It was a moment that encapsulated Cercle Brugge's afternoon: dominant and threatening, yet unable to fully convert their superiority into goals. Despite 23 attempts, Cercle Brugge managed just four on target, a wastefulness that kept the scoreline tighter than their overall performance deserved.
Cercle Brugge's pressure also yielded ten corners across the 90 minutes, a testament to the relentless attacking intent they maintained from first whistle to last. KAA Gent's goalkeeper was called into action on three occasions, making saves that at least preserved a degree of respectability in the final scoreline. At the other end, Cercle Brugge's stopper was required to make just one save, a reflection of how thoroughly the visitors controlled the contest.
The disciplinary record told its own story. Cercle Brugge collected four yellow cards — Názinho in the 14th minute, Emmanuel Kakou in the 58th, and Makaya Diaby and Edan Diop in the 85th and 86th minutes respectively — while KAA Gent's afternoon was defined by Essaoubi's red card, which ultimately sealed their fate. Gent were reduced to nine men as the match wore on, a numerical deficit that made any hope of salvaging a point virtually impossible.
Substitutions shaped the second half on both sides. Siebe van der Heyden entered for Gent at the break alongside the ill-fated Essaoubi, while Cercle Brugge introduced Charles Herrmann in the 54th minute to freshen their attacking options. Aime Omgba and Moctar Diop came on for Gent in the 77th minute, but by then the damage was done. Makaya Diaby and Valy Konaté arrived late for Cercle Brugge as the visitors managed the closing stages with composure.
Cercle Brugge can reflect on a professional away performance that delivered three crucial Belgian Pro League points. For KAA Gent, a difficult evening was compounded by the red card and a fifth defeat in recent memory against their opponents. The challenge now for KAA Gent is recovering before their next fixture, while Cercle Brugge march on with renewed confidence and momentum firmly on their side.