Gent 1–1 Genk | Pro League | 31 May 2026

Result Summary

A dramatic and hard-fought Belgian Pro League clash at the Ghelamco Arena ended in a 1–1 draw, with Genk snatching a late equaliser deep in extra time. The result denies Gent what would have been a valuable victory, as Robin Mirisola's 95th-minute finish — assisted by substitute Kayden Pierre — rescued a point for Nicky Hayen's side.

Match Analysis

If the final scoreline appears straightforward, the path to it was anything but. In a remarkable opening sequence, nine goals were scored across the first nine minutes, turning what became a 1–1 draw into a result that belies one of the most chaotic opening periods in recent memory. Tibe De Vlieger opened the scoring for Gent in the 1st minute, only for Bryan Heynen to level immediately in the 2nd. Bi Christ Hyllarion Goore restored Gent's advantage in the 3rd minute, before Robin Mirisola equalised in the 4th. Leonardo da Silva Lopes put Gent ahead again in the 5th, Nikolas Sattlberger cancelled that out in the 6th, Aimé Omgba scored in the 7th, Ayumu Yokoyama responded in the 8th, and Momodou Lamin Sonko completed the extraordinary opening barrage in the 9th minute. After that frenetic spell, the match settled into a far more measured contest — and, crucially, neither side could find a decisive goal across the remainder of regular time or extra time, until Mirisola's clinical late strike.

The statistics reflect a remarkably evenly contested match. Possession was nearly equal — Genk edging it 52% to 48% — while both teams registered exactly 15 total shots and three corners apiece. Gent, however, created the more dangerous opportunities, recording 63 dangerous attacks to Genk's 47, though Genk's five shots on target marginally exceeded Gent's four. The 85% successful pass percentage from Gent matched Genk's 84%, underscoring the quality of build-up play from both sides once the chaotic opening subsided.

Disciplinarily, Genk were the more reckless side, committing 20 fouls compared to Gent's eight. Josue Ndenge Kongolo was booked twice — in the 62nd and 118th minutes — but managed to remain on the pitch. Tiago Filipe Alves Araújo received a yellow card for Gent in the 73rd minute, while Siebe Van der Heyden was cautioned in the 105th.

Gent coach Rik Demil made impactful changes off the bench, with Momodou Lamin Sonko, Hyeon-seok Hong, Ibrahima Cissé, and Aimé Omgba all introduced, while Genk's decisive move was bringing on Kayden Pierre in the 85th minute, who delivered the assist for Mirisola's stoppage-time equaliser — a substitution that proved transformative.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called for a Gent home win (1–0), carrying a confidence rating of 55/100. That prediction proved incorrect, with the match ending in a draw. While Gent did show greater threat in dangerous attacking situations, Genk's resilience and clinical finishing in the dying moments demonstrated why the away side should not have been underestimated. The prediction's moderate confidence level reflected the inherent unpredictability of this fixture.

Key Takeaways

• Mirisola's impact from the bench was decisive — two goals in the match, including the 95th-minute equaliser, make him the standout performer.
• Gent's 63 dangerous attacks suggest they controlled the more threatening moments without converting their dominance into a winning outcome.
• Genk's foul-heavy approach (20 fouls) created yellow card accumulation risks, particularly for Kongolo who walked the disciplinary tightrope.
• Both sides will reflect on an extraordinary opening nine minutes that ultimately had no