In the 1/8th finals of the Croky Cup, Blauw-Zwart hosted the current number 2 in the Challenger Pro League, namely Zulte-Waregem. The first half hour was dominated by Club with two goals from Skov Olsen. In the second half, Thiago also found his way to goal twice and so the big win was a fact. Club qualifies for the quarterfinals of the Croky Cup!
Blauw-Zwart won the topper against Standard last Sunday by beating the Rouches 2-0. For the cup meeting with Zulte-Waregem, however, coach Deila chose to give several players some rest. No less than seven changes were made to the starting line-up. In defense, Odoi, Ordóñez and Meijer took the place of Buchanan, Spileers and De Cuyper respectively. In midfield, Balanta and Nielsen started in place of Onyedika and Vetlesen. Finally, also two substitutions in the offensive compartment: Skov Olsen and Skóras played in support of deep striker Thiago. Thus, Jutglà and Zinckernagel had to make peace with a place on the bench. For the visitors from Zulte-Waregem, the two most notable base players were Vossen and Vormer. They both played against their former employers.
In the opening stages, Club immediately claimed the ball and allowed the leather to pass well from foot to foot. However, this did not immediately produce goal danger, as Zulte Waregem stood firmly in the organization. After 10 minutes it was even the visitors who provided the first shot between the posts, but Traoré kicked hastily to punish the defensive error of the Bruges defense. Club responded with a free kick from Skov Olsen, but that attempt landed in the hands of Van Der Gouw. Almost immediately on the opposite side, Vormer was able to infiltrate into the sixteen, but his goal attempt also posed no problem for Mignolet. A little after the quarter hour mark, the nets vibrated for the first time! Tambedou misjudged the ball, allowing Thiago to make off with the leather. The Brazilian striker then served Skov Olsen at the perfect moment and kicked the opening goal into the roof of the goal. A few minutes later, the Danish winger finely repeated this with his second of the evening and this time the assist came in the name of Skóras.
The latter also had egg like after his goal shortly after the 2-0, but his header at the far post landed narrowly wide. The home team had no desire to release the throttle and a third goal was in the air. Vanaken tried it from a free kick on the edge of the penalty area, but his deviated shot could not be deflected into goal by Thiago. That third goal came just after the half hour mark after a beautiful combination via Skóras, Skov Olsen and finally Thiago. However, the goal was rightly disallowed due to offside. Then, in minute 35, the visitors showed themselves a few times on short notice. Mignolet had to stretch at an away kick and slid the ball against Traoré. Fortunately, the ball went just wide of the goal and a minute later Vossen was able to take advantage of an acute angle. This time the ball went wide, but Club had been warned and could not be lulled to sleep. Consequently, the gas pedal was pressed a bit again and this resulted in a good opportunity for Skóras. However, the Pole could not get his shot past Van Der Gouw. The game now went up and down a bit and Zulte Waregem also got its chances. Brüls tried his luck from the second line, but his cracked shot from the left ended up wide. So we went to rest with a deserved double lead for Blauw-Zwart....
Club started the second half with the same eleven names, but at Zulte Waregem we noted two substitutions in the defensive compartment. Labie and Ciranni came to replace Tambedou and Decostere respectively. The first goal threat immediately yielded the goal! Nielsen received the ball on the right flank and put it perfectly in front of goal. There Thiago nodded the 3-0 via Van Der Gouw against the nets. However, Zulte Waregem did not let their heads drop and a few minutes later Vormer was given some space on the edge of the penalty area. His crossed shot disappeared next to Mignolet's goal via the inside of the post. Surely the Bruges supporters let out a "Ruud, Ruud, Ruud,..." rolled from the stands. Soon after, Balanta also tried from the second line, but his blast went over Van Der Gouw's cage. The Bruges supporters could celebrate a few minutes later, however, as Thiago has been finding his way to goal blindly in recent matches! He infiltrated into the sixteen and at Meijer's cross, he was quickest on the ball to poke in his second of the evening.
Club then took the foot off the gas pedal for a while, but continued to create sporadic danger. However, a blast from Nielsen and a header from Vanaken were not framed. Ei so after, the visitors did manage to make the honorable save through Mohamed, but that celebration failed due to offside. The game did water down a bit on both sides due to numerous substitutions, but there was still some excitement five minutes before the end of regular playing time. Jutglà ran with the ball and also dribbled his way past his direct opponent. He then tried to outmaneuver the Essevee goalie, but his shot narrowly missed the post. Almost immediately after, Nusa also went for his chance, but his effort landed over the goal.
This also turned out to be the last goal threat of the match and so Club booked a spacious and deserved victory against Zulte Waregem. Skov Olsen and Thiago were the absolute stars in this match with two goals each. Blauw-Zwart thus advances and qualifies for the quarterfinals of the Croky Cup!
Croky Cup - 1/8th Final
Spectators: 29.042 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lothar D'Hondt
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele (77' Dedryck Boyata), Joel Ordóñez, Bjorn Meijer - Éder Balanta, Casper Nielsen (77' Raphael Onyedika), Hans Vanaken (77' Philip Zinckernagel) - Andreas Skov Olsen, Igor Thiago (62' Ferran Jutglà), Michal Skóras (62' Antonio Nusa).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Nick Shinton, Ferran Jutglà, Raphael Onyedika, Tajon Buchanan, Dedryck Boyata, Antonio Nusa, Philip Zinckernagel.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
SV Zulte Waregem: Ennio Van Der Gouw - Robbe Decostere (46' Alessandro Ciranni), Modou Tambedou (46' Andres Labie), Lukas Willen, Joel Bagan - Nicolas Rommens, Ruud Vormer, Christian Brüls, Abdoulaye Traoré (59' Kevor Palumets) - Jelle Vossen (67' Guindo Mohamed), Matheus Machado (59' Dylan Demuynck).
Bank: Louis Bostyn, Sef Van Damme, Guindo Mohamed, Alessandro Ciranni, Kevor Palumets, Andres Labie, Yannick Cappelle, Tarik El Boutabie, Dylan Demuynck, Thibaud Sergeant.
Coach: Vincent Euvrard.
Yellow cards: Tambedou
Red cards: none
Goals: 16' Skov Olsen (1-0), 20' Skov Olsen (2-0), 50' Thiago (3-0), 58' Thiago (4-0)