Gent vs Mechelen
Planet Group Arena
2025/2026
Match Report: Gent 3-1 Mechelen
KAA Gent powered past KV Mechelen 3-1 at the Ghelamco Arena to burst into the top six with two matchdays left. Teenage debutant Ibrahima Cissé stole the headlines, coming off the bench to seal a crucial victory.
Max Dean opened the scoring from the penalty spot on 31 minutes after Mory Konaté's reckless challenge. Leonardo Da Silva Lopes doubled the advantage in first-half stoppage time with a tidy finish from a corner.
Myron van Brederode pulled one back from a sharp angle on 69 minutes to give Mechelen hope. But 18-year-old Cissé, on as an early sub for the injured Wilfried Kanga, hammered home in the 83rd minute on his senior debut to kill the game.
The win lifts Gent into sixth and the final Champions' Play-off spot, leapfrogging Genk. For KV Mechelen, their 15-year wait for Play-off 1 is now in serious jeopardy with Club Brugge and Anderlecht still to come.
Match Events
8'
30'
M. Konate(Suspended for the next match)
31'
45+2'
46'
46'
60'
63'
T. Araujo(Suspended for the next match)
69'
81'
82'
82'
83'
90+5'
Player of the match
Fan pick
Statistics
46%Possession54%
13Shots8
5Shots on Target3
3Corners5
9Fouls19
1Offsides2
2Yellow Cards2
379Passes465
2Saves3
Injuries & Suspensions
Head to Head
32
Gent wins
18
Draws
11
Mechelen wins
Goals: 112 - 64
