Ponomarov: Proud of LNZ's first European outing despite stalemate with Gent

LNZ head coach Vitaliy Ponomarov shared his thoughts after his side held Belgian side Gent to a 0-0 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second qualifying round tie. "It was a tough match, just as we anticipated. We hoped the team would be more relaxed mentally, but experience plays a huge role. You need to have played games at this level. We started well, created a clear chance, but then we tensed up and started making simple errors. That's natural for a debut," Ponomarov said. He acknowledged that despite the lack of European experience, his players showed promising spells and had gilt-edged opportunities that should have been converted. "Overall, I'm pleased with how the team handled their first ever match on the European stage. But a coach is never fully satisfied – there's no such thing as a perfect game. Now we need to analyze properly and prepare for the return leg," the Ukrainian tactician added. The goalless draw sets up a decisive second leg in Belgium, where LNZ will look to make history.