Gent beat Valencia to stay in race for knockout stages

Published 11/05/2015, 1:50 AM EST

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via Reuters

By Robert-Jan Bartunek

BRUSSELS (Reuters) – Belgian champions Gent stayed in the race for the second spot of Champions League Group H by beating an innocuous Valencia 1-0 at home.

With Lyon losing at a flawless Zenit, Gent, who entered the Champions League for the first time this season, are now in third spot with four points. Valencia are second with six points.

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Itching to forget their outing in Valencia, where they lost by scoring two own goals, Gent put pressure on the visitors from the start, with Laurent Depoitre having a first effort on goal in only the second minute.

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Gent, currently leading the Belgian league, created many chances by thundering past Valencia’s flanks but it was a performance that was not reflected on the scoreboard after 45 minutes.

The much deserved goal came in the 49th minute when Sven Kums converted a penalty awarded after Antonio Barragan touched the ball.

Valencia, currently seventh in La Liga, played an uninspiring match, with Daniel Parejo’s free kick in the 56th minute a rare attempt on goal.

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While Gent’s performance appeared slightly more nervous at the end of the second half, the hosts maintained their lead until the final whistle.

(Reporting by Robert-Jan Bartunek, editing by Pritha Sarkar)

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