On Saturday evening Lierse picked up their first point of the season. Soumahoro put Gent ahead after five minutes, on the half hour debutant Wesley Sonck equalised. Against the run of play Gent immediately retook the lead via Stijn De Smet. Everyone at the Lisp had resigned themselves to another defeat, until Sonck again equalised deep into stoppage time.
For Lierse, Gunter Thiebaut, who has been persona non grata in recent weeks, unexpectedly was named in the starting line up. Not in attack, but as box-to-box player. Up front both Wesley Sonck and Peter Kovacs made their Lierse debuts. Mensah, Claasen and Elgabas made way and were on the bench.
From the start of the match Lierse took the initiative. Gent allowed Lierse to make the running. Though it was the visitors who took the lead early on. On the counter Soumahoro found himself unmarked to poke the ball past Kawashima: 0-1.
Lierse were not put off their stride and continued to mount attacks. Again Gent allowed the home team the bulk of possession.
Just before the half hour, some good work from Radzinski down the left, Jorgacevic cutting out the danger with a good diving stop.
Straight afterwards Dequevy recuperated the ball in midfield. He dinked a perfect pass to an unmarked Wesley Sonck, who controlled the ball with his chest, and left keeper Jorgacevic rooted to the spot with a superb volley into the bottom corner: 1-1. The Lisp in ecstasy, a dream debut for our new number ten..
Lierse immediately went in search of the lead: nice cros from Radzinski, ovacs just unable to get a touch on it.
AA Gent showed their efficiency. From only their second chance, they retook the lead. Cross from the left, Stijn De Smet with plenty of time to pick his spot and to give his side a somewaht flattering lead.
On the stroke of half time Lierse came close to equalising again but Jorgacevic again kept Lierse out.
After the break Lierse immediately tried to pick up where they had left off in the first half, but found it difficult to find their way through to goal.
On the hour Aimé Anthuenis brought on the new South African signing Siboniso Gaxa in place of Garry De Graef. Thiebaut taking over the captains armband. For World Cup player Gaxa his first taste of Belgian league football.
The first real chance for Lierse in the second half came when Nicaise made himself some space. His shot flying over the bar. At the other end Soumahoro fired wide.
Lierse knew they had to push forward and consequently left gaps at the back, although Gent seemed unable to take advantage. Gaxa then picked up a yellow card when holding onto his man rather too long. The visitors picked up regular bookings (five in total) for niggly fouls. Gunter Thiebaut was replaced with a little over a quarter of an hour left by Daylon Claasen.
There was a dearth of chances in the second half. Azofeifa curled a free kick just wide of the post for Gent. He was then replaced by Grondin. Lierse made a final change: Peter Kovacs giving way to Elgabas.
Five minutes from time a great chance for Lierse: cross from Radzinski, Sonck just unable to get sufficient contact on the ball, Jorgacevic tidied up.
Then Elgabas with a header at goal from a tight angle, but a Gent defender cleared off the goalline. The supporters with heads in hands.
Then when everybody thought that the three points were for the visitors, Elgabas found himself through on Jorgacevic. The goalie made a good block but Wesley Sonck was on the prowl: he didn't make clean contact with his shot, but the ball had enough pace to creep into the corner just before a Gent defender could clear. The crowd reacted as though Lierse had won the match. At the end of the day only 1 point, but mentally equivalent to a win.
Eupen also drew (0-0 away to Zulte Waregem), so both team share bottom place with one point.
Lierse: Kawashima, Davids, K.Van Dooren, De Graef (Gaxa 60'), Notari, Thiebaut (Claasen 73'), Dequevy, Nicaise, Radzinski, Sonck, Kovacs (Elgabas 82')
Goals: Sonck 32' (1-1), Sonck 90 + 3' (2-2)
Booked: Gaxa, Claasen
AA Gent: Jorgacevic, Hanstveit, Wils, El Ghanassy, Wallace, Baric, Smolders, De Smet (Ljubijankic 82'), Azofeifa (Grondin 79'), Soumahoro (Thompson 90'), Coulibaly
Booked: Baric, De Smet, Soumahoro, Grondin, El Ghanassy
Goals: Soumahoro 6' (0-1), De Smet 38' (1-2)
