Josué Vergara plays full match in KAA Gent's Conference League draw

Panamanian footballer Josué Vergara played the entire match for Belgian club KAA Gent in their 0-0 draw against Ukraine's LNZ Cherkasy. The UEFA Conference League second preliminary round first leg took place on neutral ground at the Orlen Stadium in Plock, Poland, as the Ukrainian team cannot use its usual facilities due to the war. Vergara, who joined Gent this summer, was booked with a yellow card during the game.

The match was characterized by LNZ Cherkasy's solid defense and the Belgian team's lack of effectiveness. Gent's clearest chance in the first half came in the 24th minute when Ukrainian forward Cody David faced goalkeeper Davy Roef, but the Belgian keeper denied the goal. In the second half, KAA Gent increased pressure and came close to scoring in the 63rd minute when winger Hyllarion Goore hit the crossbar with a powerful shot. Despite the Belgian team's late siege, the Ukrainian defense kept a clean sheet until the final whistle.

The second leg of this tie, with Vergara expected to start again, is scheduled for July 30 at the Planet Group Arena in Belgium. The winner will face either IFK Göteborg of Sweden or Levadia Tallinn of Estonia in the third preliminary round, with the Estonian team currently leading that tie 1-2 after the first leg.

Statistically, the match was even, with possession split 49% for the Ukrainian team and 51% for the Belgian side. Gent had more shots (11 to 6) and shots on target (4 to 3). Both teams had three corner kicks. LNZ Cherkasy committed 17 fouls compared to Gent's 7, resulting in one yellow card for the home team and two for the visitors.