Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Kryvbas KR beat Gent 2-1 in a pre-season friendly in the Netherlands. Trialist Giovany Herbert scored both goals (13', 44') after Moktar Diop's 9th-minute opener for the Belgian side.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Gent struck first inside nine minutes. Moktar Diop capitalised on a defensive error from Kryvbas and slotted into an empty net after goalkeeper Oleksandr Kemkin had rushed out. (0-1)
Kryvbas nearly equalised two minutes later when Jan Jurcec's free-kick rattled the crossbar, but the response came swiftly. In the 13th minute, Panamanian trialist Giovany Herbert received a pass inside the box and fired a powerful shot into the near corner to level the scores. (1-1)
The home side grew into the half. Yaroslav Shevchenko, Assane Seck and Herbert all had chances before Herbert struck again in the 44th minute — a spectacular long-range effort into the same near corner, assisted by Shevchenko, to give Kryvbas the lead. (2-1)
After the interval, Kryvbas controlled the tempo. Shevchenko created two dangerous chances, new signing Mashadu went close with a long-range effort, and substitutes Kamenskyi, Bodnar and Butenko all had late opportunities, but the scoreline remained unchanged.
The Turning Point
Herbert's 13th-minute equaliser — just four minutes after Diop's opener and two minutes after Jurcec's crossbar — shifted momentum decisively. Gent had started sharply, but once Kryvbas found their rhythm through Herbert's direct running and finishing, the Belgian side never regained control.
Key Performers
Giovany Herbert (Kryvbas KR) — The Panamanian trialist scored both Kryvbas goals (13', 44'), a powerful near-post finish and a stunning long-range strike. Named Player of the Match.
Yaroslav Shevchenko (Kryvbas KR) — Assisted Herbert's second goal and created two further chances in the second half, driving Kryvbas' attacking play from midfield.
Moktar Diop (Gent) — The Senegalese forward opened the scoring in the 9th minute and was a constant threat before being substituted at half-time.
By the Numbers
The provider payload records three goals from seven shots on target in the first half alone, with no second-half goals despite Kryvbas maintaining territorial control. Kryvbas' 2-1 half-time lead proved sufficient — a marked improvement from their four previous friendlies, all of which ended in defeat.
What It Means
This was Kryvbas' fifth and final friendly of their second summer training camp in the Netherlands, and their first win of pre-season after losses to Inhulets (1-2), Chornomorets (1-2), Lommel (2-4) and Zulte-Waregem (1-2). Head coach Patrick van Leeuwen now returns to Kryvyi Rih for the final stage of preparation before the Ukrainian Premier League season.
Gent, under head coach Thomas Matton, played their fourth pre-season friendly following wins over Merelbeke (6-1), a draw with AZ (3-3) and a win over Beveren (4-0). The Belgian side continue their build-up to the 2026-27 Pro League campaign.
Verdict
A useful pre-season workout for both sides. Kryvbas showed character to recover from an early defensive lapse, and Herbert's brace — particularly his 44th-minute strike — demonstrated quality that could earn the trialist a contract. Gent's sharp start faded after the equaliser, a pattern Matton will want to address before competitive fixtures begin.
Match Events
Key match events between Kryvbas KR and Gent — 3 goals and 0 cards recorded during the match.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 21 Jul 2026