Gent gained revenge over ten-man Sporting Club de Portugal for last month's Europa League thrashing with a 3-1 victory in Group C.

Gent coach Francky Dury was confident his team could still qualify for the knockout phase of the competition despite having picked up only one point from their first three games. And his faith was repaid as the home side scored twice in the last 10 minutes to claim a vital win.

Tim Smolders put the Belgian side ahead after just eight minutes from the penalty spot, with Carlos Saleiro reply for the visitors six minutes before the break. But substitutes Ibrahima Conte and Shlomi Arbeitman struck late on to secure the win at the Jules Ottenstadion in front of a crowd of just 8,795.

Gent were hammered 5-1 when the teams met a fortnight ago at the Estadio Jose Alvalade, but a victory over Mechelen 3-1 on Saturday lifted them to third in the Jupiler League and they took renewed confidence into tonight's clash.

Sporting had the best of the very early stages with Diogo Salomao and Nune Andre Coelho both trying their luck from just outside the area. Salomao forced Gent goalkeeper Bojan Jorgacevic into the first save of the match, whole Coelho's effort flew over the bar.

However, it was the home side who took the lead after eight minutes after Stijn De Smet's corner was handled in the area by Fernando Abel. After Abel was booked for his troubles, Smolders stepped up to calmly sidefoot the penalty into the bottom corner.

It took the visitors ten minutes to get back on track and Evaldo Santos forced Jorgacevic into action again with a right-footed shot from 18 yards. Gent went straight down the other end and Fernando Wallace tried his luck with a free-kick from 25 yards, which was comfortably held by Sporting goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand.

Sporting had scored 12 goals in their first three games in the group and duly got back on level terms on 38 minutes when Saleiro slotted home from 12 yards.

Good chances were hard to come by in the second half and the key moment came in the 77th minute when Abel was sent off for a second bookable offence. And Gent took just three minutes to make their numerical superiority count, substitutes Arbeitman and Conte combining for the latter to fire home from 12 yards.

The home side put the result beyond any doubt with a third goal three minutes later, Arbeitman heading Yassine El Ghanassy's cross home from six yards.