Harambee Stars international Joseph Okumu featured for the full length of the game as his KAA Gent side kept Belgian club’s 100% win record against Irish clubs in UEFA competitions intact with a dominating 3-0 victory over Shamrock Rovers in the second round of group matches of the UEFA Europa Conference League.Having both played out goalless draws in their opening Europa Conference League games, K.A.A Gent and Shamrock Rovers were aiming to get their first respective victories of their European campaign.Our starting XI for the home game 🆚 @ShamrockRovers! 🔵⚪ #COBW #gntrov #UECL #lineup pic.twitter.com/lMNmcIZE17— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) September 15, 2022 Gent were on top from the start, in particular their top scorer Hugo Cuypers who shortly after hitting the crossbar scored his sixth goal of the season. Youngster Malick Fofana did well to lay it off to Cuypers who then found the bottom corner for 1-0 with a smart finish.Shamrock only had themselves to blame for going further behind 20 minutes in. After receiving a short goal-kick Daniel Cleary slipped over the ball, inevitably teeing up Vadis Odjidja-Ofoe who scored a sensational scissor kick to make it 2-0.Dylan Watts came closest for the visitors in the opening 45 minutes when his cross was cleared off the line, keeping the score at 2-0 heading in at the break.HT 2-0 | Halfweg. Steady as she goes. COBW! #gntrov #UECL #ht pic.twitter.com/kFLAAykWKw— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) September 15, 2022 Despite starting the second-half far more positively Shamrock really struggled to create any chances. The best came after 60 minutes when Jack Byrne saw his long range effort go narrowly over the bar.The visitors were punished immediately for not being more clinical, Odjidja-Ofoe completed his brace with another superb effort from the edge of the area that found the top corner, courtesy of another Fofana assist.FT 3-0 | ☘️ We winnen wel, we winnen niet, we winnen wel 😉 #gntrov #uecl #ft pic.twitter.com/45KR2ta6o7— KAA Gent (@KAAGent) September 15, 2022 Following some confusion at the back from the hosts, Rory Gaffney found himself with only the goalkeeper in front of him and somehow couldn’t find a way past Paul Nardi to give Gent a huge let off.The hosts comfortably saw out the rest of the game, taking them to the top of Group F on four points, leaving Shamrock Rovers with a huge task to stand any chance of progressing in the Conference League.
Additional reporting by Flashscore.