St‑Gilloise turn the Europa night into a masterclass clinic

Union St‑Gilloise arrived in Israel with a swagger that said “we’re here to teach, not to learn”, and they delivered a four‑goal lesson that left Hapoel Be’er scrambling for a syllabus. From the first whistle, the Belgians pressed high, forcing the hosts into a nervous rhythm that never quite found its footing.

The opening half was a showcase of positional discipline. Union’s back‑four moved as a single organism, stepping up to catch any stray ball and feeding the midfield trio with precision. Hapoel’s defense, meanwhile, seemed to have misplaced their GPS; the lines were loose, the spacing generous, and the goalkeeper was left polishing the crossbar for the second half.

Midway through the first period, a crisp pass from the central midfielder split the Israeli back line, releasing the striker onto a one‑on‑one with the keeper. The finish was clinical – a low‑driven shot into the bottom corner that set the tone. The goal was the first of four, each subsequent strike a variation on the same theme: quick transitions, incisive passing, and a poacher’s instinct.

Union’s midfield engine, the 24‑year‑old Dutchman Jelle Van Aert, was the engine room that kept the tempo humming. He logged 85 passes with an 89% success rate, recovered three balls in dangerous zones, and nudged the ball into the net with a well‑timed late run. His rating? An 8.7 that made the opposition’s midfield look like a schoolyard game of keep‑away.

Up front, the Belgian forward Maxime Boffa was the headline act. Two goals, one assist, and a relentless work rate that saw him dropping deep to help the press. His movement forced Hapoel’s centre‑backs into a perpetual game of tag, and his finishing was ruthless – a right‑footed curl from the edge of the box and a tap‑in after a corner. Boffa earned a sparkling 9.0.

Defensively, the Union centre‑back duo of Romain Gomis and Luka Maric kept a clean sheet with composure. Gomis, in particular, made a crucial interception in the 68th minute that denied a late Hapoel counter‑attack, meriting a solid 7.8.

For Hapoel Be’er, the night was a masterclass in how not to handle pressure. Their best effort was a half‑chance that fizzed out at the edge of the box. The Israeli keeper, despite a valiant effort, faced a barrage of shots and left the field with a rating of 5.2.

What does this mean for the group? Union St‑Gilloise catapulted themselves to the top of their Europa League pool, turning a previously modest point tally into a commanding lead. Hapoel Be’er, stuck at the bottom, now faces an uphill battle to stay in contention, with goal difference likely to become their only lifeline.

Player Ratings

• Maxime Boffa (Union St‑Gilloise) – 9.0
• Jelle Van Aert (Union St‑Gilloise) – 8.7
• Romain Gomis (Union St‑Gilloise) – 7.8
• Luka Maric (Union St‑Gilloise) – 7.5
• Hapoel Be’er Goalkeeper – 5.2