Gent’s Kenyan defender Joseph Okumu had a frustrating day at the office on Thursday night as he conceded a penalty and ended up on the wrong side of 4-1 demolition. Even though the Belgian side took the lead on the night, putting them ahead on aggregate, the dream start was followed by a nightmarish hour in which Okumu’s handball gave West Ham a penalty and the second of four goals. Gent ended their interest in European competitions as the Hammers made it to the UEFA Europa Conference League semi-final.KAA Gent team prior to kick-off at London Stadium (©Getty Images)The Kisumu-born star continued the trend from the first leg, where he had the most attempted passes in both teams. Unfortunately for him, this was a game where he had to battle a Jamaican international, Michail Antonio, man-mountain. Ultimately, Gent players were intimidated and out-muscled despite deserving some credit for getting off to a positive start. The two-legged duel with an English Premier League side was a good test for the 25-year-old Harambee Star, who got a taste of the physicality and pace required at the highest level. As for his handball, though, it was just one of those things.The Buffalos started off well, boosted by the loud support of around 4,000 travelling fans. Captain Sven Kums delivered an inviting cross into the box. Still, somehow, both young sensation Gift Orban and Hugo Cuypers both failed to connect, letting goalkeeper Alphonse Areola off the hook.##NAJAVA_MECA_7190470##The Belgian team was rewarded for its positive approach midway through the first half. Orban dispossessed the indecisive Paqueta and the Irons failed to recover. Matisse Samoise delivered a cross for Cuypers to bundle in as Nayef Aguerd lost his balance in an attempt to clear it over the line.David Moyes was frozen on the touchline, watching the familiar scene of his players surrendering the ball and going behind. But the Premier League managed to restore parity ten minutes later. Antonio levelled with a close-range header at the near post after a pinpoint cross from Jarrod Bowen. It has to be said that Okumu had no chance to intervene, having been guarding the far post.FT West Ham 4-1 Gent (5-2 agg)⚽ 26′: Cuypers⚽ 37′: Antonio⚽ 55′: Paqueta (P) ⚽ 58′: Rice⚽ 63′: AntonioWest Ham come from a goal down to progress to the #UECL semi-finals…#WHUFC #RUKIGAFMSports pic.twitter.com/3WgDy0Rrfi— Rukiga F.M (@rukigafm) April 20, 2023 The game started to unravel for Gent in the second period. After the restart, the hosts had already hit the woodwork, but real trouble came ten minutes into the second half. Israeli referee got a signal from the VAR room for Okumu’s handball in the box. It was one of those that could have gone either way – but sadly for the Belgian club, the decision was – penalty. Paqueta converted the spot-kick to put West Ham in front and captain Declan Rice scored the goal of the game just three minutes later to open up a two-goal lead for the English club. Rice motored down the pitch and left Okumu in his wake before finding the net.Declan Rice, I was not familiar…pic.twitter.com/lBsdyyxG0q— Jay (@Visualtrickz) April 20, 2023 After an hour of play, Antonio got his second of the night, rounding off a frantic eight-minute spell that saw Gent’s goalie Davy Roef fish the ball out of his net thrice. There was no turning back.Bowen thought he’d made it five, but his goal was disallowed for a handball with 20 minutes to go. Gent’s coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck made all five substitutions in the second half, but none of them saw Okumu hauled off – telling perhaps that the Kenyan had done his duty well enough, given the daunting final score.
