League leaders Union awaited on Match Day 13. The fabled Dudenpark witnessed how Amoura opened the score with a wondrous goal, only to see Club draw level through De Cuyper. Scoring his second of the evening, the MVP award could only go to Amoura, making it 2-1 for Union and further widening the gap with the visitors on the table.
An emphatic Cup win at Beerschot boosted Club's confidence on Wednesday. Still, the team underwent some changes going head to head with runaway leaders Union. In defense Spileers reclaimed his spot at the expense of Ordóñez, and in midfield, Nielsen was given the nod to take on his former employer, referring Vetlesen to the bench. The same went for Nusa and Thiago, seeing their places taken in by Zinckernagel and Jutglà.
Claiming the most possession in the opening minutes, Club threatened through breaks on the wing with a.o. Skov Olsen, but could not create any clear danger. Bit by bit the hosts started to claw their way back, restoring the balance, but also without really unsettling Mignolet. After twenty minutes the hosts took care of the first real chance of the game: Nielsen loaded from just outside the box, but Moris proved the better of the shot. On the other side of the pitch, Union pushed through after a steal, with Ayensa putting in front of goal, where it was headed back towards Amoura, who magestically sent it home with a perfectly executed bicycle kick.
The opening goal sent Union flying, and minutes later another fine chance followed. That same Amoura was sent deep, going past Mechele and trying a shot towards the far post, but fortunately for Club Mignolet parried the ball well. Straight after, he was called upon again, as Spileers had an unfortunate deviation to the ball calling his keeper to action again. A bit later Spileers was able clear the ball off the line. The flurry of chances woke Club up, but no more chances followed in what had been a frustrating first half for the visitors.
The same protagonists taking on the second half, it was the hosts that combined towards a first chance, Amouras playing it in to Puertas, whose one-time shot went just over. Minutes later, Lapoussin tried with a long range shot, and again Club's goalie saved the day with an excellent shot. A second goal seemed up in the air, particularly when Puertas found Lazare by the far post, but the latter's header went wide. Having seen enough, coach Deila reacted with a triple substitution, not to too great effect at first however, with chances coming for the hosts still. Mignolet floated Puertas' free kick over the crossbar, and a bit later Castro-Montes was denied. The crowd at the Dudenpark expected a second home goal, but it fell on the other side of the pitch. Skov Olsen was set up on the right wing, finding De Cuyper as he sported the attack. Cutting inside, the defender found Moris at fault by neatly curling it in towards the far post, making it all to play for. The goal offered the hosts some breathing room, and another chance came a bit later to Skov Olsen, allowing some space to try from afar, but his shot went over Moris' goal.
It looked like the game really could go either way now, but it was again the hosts that took the lead, Rodriguez putting Amoura through on goal, beating Mechele to the ball, sailing past Mignolet, and finishing from an acute angle. Bringing on Thiago, coach Deila tried turning the tide, and the Brazilian was involved in a great action right away but Moris managed to clear his promising cross. Maintaining a solid organisation, Union succeeded in keeping Club away from its goal. A free kick from an interesting position in injury time, taken by Vanaken, chipped off the wall into corner kick.
The final word in the game came to the hosts, allowed a penalty kick after Spileers came to late fouling Rodriguez. Rodriguez picked up the ball, but saw his effort strand just wide of the post. The score remained unchanged, leaving Club without points from their trip to leaders Union. On Thursday, Club will be taking on Swiss Lugano at home!
Jupiler Pro League – Match Day 13
Audience: 9,400 – Stade Joseph Marien
Ref: Jasper Vergoote
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise: Anthony Moris – Kevin Mac Allister, Christian Burgess, Koki Machida – Alessio Castro-Montes, Lazare Amani (79’ Noah Sadiki), Charles Vanhoutte, Cameron Puertas, Loïc Lapoussin – Dennis Eckert Ayensa (68’ Kevin Rodriguez), Mohamed Amoura (82’ Mathias Rasmussen).
Bench: Joachim Imbrechts, Maxime Wenssens, Ross Sykes, Noah Sadiki, Mathias Rasmussen, Casper Terho, Elton Kabangu, Kevin Rodriguez, Guillaume François.
Coach: Alexander Blessin.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Denis Odoi (54’ Antonio Nusa), Brandon Mechele (80’ Igor Thiago), Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer – Éder Balanta (54’ Hugo Vetlesen), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen, Ferran Jutglà, Philip Zinckernagel (54’ Maxim De Cuyper).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Joel Ordóñez, Maxim De Cuyper, Hugo Vetlesen, Michał Skóraś, Antonio Nusa, Igor Thiago.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow: Odoi, Amoura, Vetlesen, Lapoussin, Burgess, Thiago, Spileers
Red: none
Goals: 22’ Amoura (1-0), 60’ De Cuyper (1-1), 68’ Amoura (2-1)