Belgian professional soccer side Gent, featuring international midfielder Hong Hyun-seok, narrowly missed out on victory in the first leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League (UECL) third qualifying round.

Gent drew 2-2 away to Silkeborg in the first leg of the 2024-2025 UECL third qualifying round at the Silkeborg Stadium in Silkeborg, Denmark on Monday (Sept. 9).

Gent will host Silkeborg on April 16 for the second leg.

The combined result of the first and second leg will determine the team’s qualification for the UECL playoffs.

Hong Hyun-seok started as an attacking midfielder and played around 71 minutes before being substituted for Omri Gandelman in the 26th minute of the second half.

Hong didn’t add much to the offense.

Gent kept Silkeborg’s offense at bay in the first half.

They conceded a penalty kick in the fourth minute of the second half to Silkeborg’s Toni Adamsen.

Ghent equalized in the 16th minute of the second half with an own goal from a corner kick.

In second-half stoppage time, Ghent’s Max Dean scored a dramatic comeback goal with a pinpoint header from a cross directed at him.

However, a late goal from Silkeborg’s Adamsen from an opponent’s corner just before the end of the match snatched victory from their grasp.

Meanwhile, Partizan (Serbia), who introduced Ko Young-joon at the start of the second half, lost 0-1 at home to Lugano (Switzerland) in the first leg of their UEFA Europa League (UEL) third qualifying round match at the Stadion Partizan in Belgrade, Serbia.

Partizan were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League (UCL) second qualifying round by Dynamo Kyiv (Ukraine), which pushed them into the UEL third qualifying round.

If Partizan loses to Lugano in the combined result of the first and second leg of the UEL third qualifying round, Partizan will drop into the UECL playoffs.

In that case, Partizan will face the winner of Silkeborg-Ghent.

The UECL knockout stage could see Gent’s Hong Hyun-seok and Partizan’s Ko Young-joon face off on a wooden bridge.

Partizan will face Lugano away in the second leg of their third qualifying round match on April 16.

Ko came on for Ibrahim Zubairu at the start of the second half, but was unable to create any offense.

Partizan took a knee in the 28th minute of the second half after conceding the opening goal to Lugano’s Mattia Chanotti. 안전놀이터