Night of firsts for debutants Gent

Gent's history boys took to UEFA Champions League football in dramatic style on a night of firsts for the Belgian debutants as they held Lyon 1-1 – not that the scoreline tells the story of an incredible Group H opener.

First UEFA Champions League match
The crowd and the players fed off each other as those present at a packed KAA Gent Stadium participated in an evening they will never forget. The first airing of the UEFA Champions League anthem in the ultra-modern arena was greeted with an excited roar, and the noise reached a peak when Matz Sels saved Alexandre Lacazette's late penalty to preserve a point.

First goal
Sels was one of the three players coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck picked out for special mentions. The other two, Laurent Depoitre and Sven Kums, played vital roles in the Gent equaliser. Depoitre was a menace throughout, striking the crossbar in the first half and impressing with his hold-up play and awareness.

Both qualities were in evidence for the goal as the burly forward instantly controlled Sels' long punt downfield and attracted defenders to him before feeding Kums. The skipper spotted Danijel Milicevic in the space created by Depoitre, and the rest is Gent UEFA Champions League history, the Swiss midfielder keeping his cool and guiding the ball across Anthony Lopes.

Danijel Milicevic celebrates his goal©Getty Images

First point
General manager Michel Louwagie said pre-match he wanted Gent to avoid "at all costs" the fate of Anderlecht in 2004/05, when they finished with no points. That objective has been ticked off. Louwagie added he wanted Gent to provide entertainment; that they certainly did. Now their task is to reach Louwagie's other objective of "at least four points" in the section. On Wednesday night's evidence The Buffalos are certainly capable of it.

First red card(s)
Brecht Dejaegere was dismissed shortly before half-time for a foul on Maxime Gonalons, while Thomas Foket got his marching orders late on when he conceded the penalty. Even when they were reduced to ten men, Gent attempted to play in the same manner which had troubled Lyon so greatly in the first half-hour. With character, skill – and some luck – the nine men obtained the draw.

Final word
Sven Kums was inspirational and more than deserves the final word: "Our supporters can be proud of us because we played well. It's a pity we were reduced to ten men because I think that with 11 players on the field we could have won the match. It is a good result, though, and we're very happy."