Bohs 1-0 Gent

**Slash/ED** · 23/06/2005, 10:14 PM

Originally Posted by cabo2005

We are the champions of europe. Are any of your teams? no haha

I decided around five minutes ago I was a Liverpool fan, so yeah my team is. Isn't it super!?

**Buller** · 23/06/2005, 10:19 PM

Originally Posted by Slash/ED

I decided around five minutes ago I was a Liverpool fan, so yeah my team is. Isn't it super!?

I wouldnt even bother replying to him Slash... he is just trying to annoy us for some idiotic reason, could someone please ban him?!

**sonofstan** · 23/06/2005, 10:33 PM

Originally Posted by Buller

I wouldnt even bother replying to him Slash... he is just trying to annoy us for some idiotic reason, could someone please ban him?!

because that's the Rovers way

**Gerrit** · 23/06/2005, 10:38 PM

wrote a small report myself to be published on my soon to be launched personal site... anyway, enjoy

18/06/2005 : BOHEMIAN F.C. - KAA GENT : 1-0

We've had the Champions League final hardly past us, and the new European season is already starting again... Before the main participants start their campaign (UEFA Cup and Champions League) we already get the Intertoto Cup, offering teams that nearly missed European football an alternative way to get into the actual European scene.

Especially for Bohs this was the case. The North Dubliners finished at third spot behind champions Shelbourne and runners-up Cork City last season, and as Longford Town claimed the second UEFA Cup spot via their FAI Cup triumph, the traditional top club from Dublin just missed a European ticket.

KAA Gent on the other hand finished only at sixth spot, 20 points behind champions Club Brugge, but because Standard Liege and Charleroi (the numbers 4 and 5) did not feel like such an early start of the season, Gent was allowed to enter the Intertoto Cup once again. The Ghent team are familiar with the tournament, last year they eliminated Reykjavik side Fylkir in the first round, then to go out on penalties versus Macedonian giants Vardar Skopje. Only three seasons ago Gent even had another Dublin team as opposition. Gent eliminated St-Patrick's Athletic back then, losing 3-1 in Inchicore but winning 2-0 at home. It was close back then, and it should even be closer right now: Gent just returned from a very short holiday and have had few or no trainings (their goalkeeper Herpoel was even absent due to... holidays) while Bohs are in the middle of the season. The FAI changed from a winter league into a summer league two seasons ago ; playing from March to November would not only attract bigger crowds but would also allow Irish sides to enter the European tournaments fit and well prepared. This idea didn't miss its effect, as Shelbourne and Cork last year both had an impressive European run (impressive according to Irish standards, that is !). Bohs happened to be the one Irish club that had a disappointing run in Europe last year, as they were eliminated by Estonian amateur side Levadia Tallinn (much to the laughter of the support of rivals Shelbourne, who meanwhile reached the last qualifying stage of the Champions League where they played Deportivo La Coruna for a packed Lansdowne Road).

Bohemians, the Republic of Ireland's oldest club (founded in 1890 - only Northern Irish nationalist club Cliftonville FC is older), has its home in the Dalymount Park stadium in Phibsborough, North Dublin. The church of Phibsborough is right across the stadium. It's a quite old stadium, about as old as the club itself. While two stands were modernised and one side of the ground was broken down and replaced by a new smaller stand and a parking space, one big stand (a no-seater) behind the one goal reminds of the age and glorious past of the stadium. However, note that this stand is no longer open for public due to safety reasons, it is now hosting the many banners from Bohs fans.

Bohs is currently at the fifth spot in the Eircom League's top division. They started off in disaster. The club had to sell three out of their 4 star players to Dublin rivals Shelbourne (only Kevin Hunt stayed loyal to his beloved club) because of financial troubles, and even now the financial worries are not all over yet. The club had a dramatic run in the early season and was at the last spot but one after approx 6 games. Then suddenly, after their coach was sacked and replaced by player-coach Farrely, Bohs started to actually win games and climbed to the 5th spot in a rush. The club is now suddenly looking up to the European spots again instead of down to the threatening relegation spots.

The game against Gent was played with only two stands open: the main Jodi Stand along the pitch (home to Bohs' fanatical support, and this time also to the travelling Ghent fans) and the Des Kelly Stand behind the goal. The stand normally used for visiting fans was not used this time, as there was no seggregation between the two clubs' support. Surprising, because Bohs is known to be one of the few Irish sides with a sometimes violent support. The minority of riotting Bohs fans even made the news only 2 weeks before this game, when they went into a fight with the hools of the one other 'risky' Irish side: Shamrock Rovers (also playing at Dalymount by the way this season !).

The Jodi Stand was nice and full for this European game, approx 3000 fans according to official sources. Approx 150 fans had travelled from Belgium. Remarkably was also that fans of other Irish clubs put aside the rivality with Bohemians for a day and came to Dalymount Park to cheer on their fellow Eircom League side. There were even fans of big rivals Shelbourne (including me) and Cork.

**Gerrit** · 23/06/2005, 10:39 PM

(part II)

The game started off in a very slow rhythm, it seemed Bohs (who had slightly more possession) lacked creativity to force openings in the Ghent defense, while Gent clearly lacked training to already dominate a competitive game at this very early stage of the season. Especially Nordin Jbari, once a very big talent but then he got on the dole, gave a very unfit impression and even the Gent supporters after a while got very frustrated with their striker not winning a single duel and screwing every attack in which he got involved. A yellow card for protest was his only succesful action.

The first chance was a rather weak shot from distance from Bohs, easily caught by Zlatko Runje. Runje, whose brother Vedran is the goalkeeper of fellow Belgian top-flight side Standard, gave a very solid impression as replacement of the absent goalkeeper Herpoel. The second chance was a lot better, as Foley slipped through the offside trap on a long pass from player-manager Farrelly and came face-to-face with Runje, then to half miss his shot and see the ball bounce just past the far post. The best chance of the game at that moment, without any doubt. Just before half-time then, Zlatko Runje assured Gent reached half-time with a draw on the imaginary board: a shot from distance from Ward was brilliantly saved out of the upper corner of the goal.

0-0 at half-time after a rather boring first half, with Bohs creating the only two good opportunities and being unlucky not to have scored at least once. Gent didn't create a single chance, which may not be that unnormal though after only 3 days of training.

Half time gave the fans the opportunity to get the obligate drink and fish and chips (the bar was closed during the game for safety reasons) and gave me and other Belgian expats in Ireland the chance to socialise with some of the Gent fans. Not that they were behaving that nicely, a few stewards had to stop some Gent "fans" from venomously taunting Bohs players coming back on the field, and some Gent fans used foul language towards the players a bit too often to be good. Luckily we're talking about a minority here. The Bohs fans by the way, usually very loud (they are, along with Cork and Shamrock Rovers, the biggest and most fanatic support in the ROI), were more silent than for the average Eircom League game, but they did behave very well.

Just after half time, while the crowd was just re-installing itself in the stand, suddenly Bohs succeeded in their chase of a goal. Foley delivered an excellent cross from the right, and Tony Grant headed the ball by the first post. The ball, slightly deflicted at Ghent defender Stephen Laybutt's body, seemed to go over the goal but then falled right under the bar, over the surprised goalie Runje. 1-0 for Bohs and the Jodi Stand, including this one-day Bohs fan, exploded from joy.

This meant that Gent was now more or less obligated to leave their defensive play behind and chase a goal. It was rather ununderstandable that manager Georges Leekend did not replace the weak striker Nordin Jbari. Gent tried to attack, but this left space in the back and thus counter options for Bohs. Bohs did try to chase a second goal, but everytime they seemed to take advantage of the space in the Ghent defense, their crossed missed direction. Only one time Bohs came really close to a second goal: again a cross from the right, this time a header came at the second post ; it seemed like the striker didn't hit the ball rightly, but it did fall right towards the corner of the goal, were Runje had to make a spectacular save to prevend a second Irish goal.

Then suddenly out of the blue, Ghent got their first true chance. It was substitute Tim Matthijs, who made one of his final appearances for Ghent before starting the new season with his new club Zulte-Waregem, who suddenly managed to head towards the goal after a long ball, he pushed the two Bohs defenders away but then, with only goalkeeper Matt Gregg in front of him, he shot over the bar. The first chance for the Belgian visitors, the first time Bohs' English-born goalkeeper was in serious danger. It was the sign for Gent to push through any further, without being too dangerous though. Bohs seemed to be satisfied with the 1-0 and didn't really chase a second goal no more. One of the Ghent players slipped through the Bohs defense again, but then eye in eye with Gregg he decided to pass the ball towards the centre of the box rather than shooting himself ; two Ghent players were running into the ball, but the Bohs defenders were back just in time to clear the ball. This was serious mayhem for the Dubliners, and maybe this was even the best chance of the game. Bohs, who -apart from the two headers- only tested Runje via some weak long distance effords, consolidated the 1-0 lead succesfully despite Ghent having more possession now. In the very last minute though one of their defenders made hands just out of the box. Free kick for Gent from less than 20 meters, with only a minute of injury time to go. One last scary moment for the Irish fans, but the free kick went over the wall and over the goal, which was also the last action as the referee finished it off.

1-0, a narrow but well-deserved win for Bohs over a Belgian side who never impressed but can use the only three days of training as an excuse. The return game will be played next Saturday in Gentbrugge, where Bohs hopefully will not have to regret for not having chased a second goal. However, one Irish goal and Gent should be over and out. Bohs supporters announced over 400 fans will follow the team to Belgium to chase another European success for an Eircom League side. Gent will have to force a win at their own Ottenstadion in order to avoid a very fast European elimination, which would mean the players returned from holiday so soon for nothing and leave a big disappointment. The winner of the tie will play a Czech or Belaruse side, with at stake a third round clash against Spanish giants Valencia CF.

(c) Gerrit