Levski came from behind to beat Gent and get their UEFA Europa League Group C campaign off to a flyer in Sofia.

The Bulgarian side had not beaten a Belgian team in six attempts prior to this contest at the Georgi Asparuhov Stadium. But goals from Joaozinho, Garra Dembele and Sergio Greene enabled them to end that record and inflict a seventh successive European away defeat on Gent.

The visitors started brightly and Costa Rican midfielder Randall Azofeifa twice brought saves out of Levski goalkeeper Georgi Petkov in the first seven minutes with long-range free-kicks. Gent keeper Bojan Jorgavcevic saved from midfielder Darko Tasevski in the 15th minute, then showed good handling five minutes later to deny striker Dembele.

The visitors took the lead in the 23rd minute through an impressive 30-yard shot from Azofeifa, whose well-struck low effort bamboozled Petkov. Dembele shot over from 18 yards four minutes before half-time - but soon after the visitors were level through Joaozinho's 30-yard thunderbolt.

Gent regained their advantage four minutes into the second half when Stijn De Smet converted Azofeifa's inswinging corner from close range. Levski midfielder Alexsandar Alexandrov tried his luck left-footed from 25 yards just before the hour mark - but Jorgavcevic was equal to his effort.

However, the Gent keeper could do nothing to keep out Dembele's effort from 12 yards little more than a minute later, which levelled matters at 2-2. A glut of substitutions followed in the next 20 minutes but there was little goalmouth activity until the 81st minute, when Dembele's 12-yard effort was saved.

However, four minutes later the home crowd were celebrating the winning goal. Gent's Yassine El Ghanassy fouled Joaozinho, who took the free-kick himself. It was perfect for Greene - a summer signing from Eredivisie side Vitesse Arnhem - to produce a flicked header which eluded Jorgavcevic and ended up in the net to settle the contest.