After Union's win at Anderlecht on Saturday, Club Brugge was forced to also come out on top at KRC Genk's Cegeka Arena to keep those title aspirations alive. The visitors took the lead thirty minutes in through Vetlesen, and the hosts made it an even more unsurmountable task as Smets saw a red card still in the firstr half. Club went on to double the score through Jutglà, claiming a vital win to keep the gap with Union to just the one unit.
Just one week ago, the Blue & Black family reached another delirium by claiming that Belgian Cup win at the expense of RSC Anderlecht. Little reason for change, thought coach Nicky Hayen, only changing his team in one position as Vetlesen was preferred over Jutglà, making it an attacking threesome in Vetlesen, Tzolis and Vermant. One change to Genk's usual 11, as Sattlberger came on for Bangoura.
The two teams are still very much in the title race, and a defeat for either could quickly put an end to those boisterous dreams. A high intensity game followed, with Club coming closest to scoring first as some nifty passing allowed Vetlesen to strike from just outside the box, but his shot was not framed. Genk soon reacted, and it took a double save by Jackers to deny Steuckers. After an entertaining first fifteen minutes, the two teams decided to lower the pace, chances now very sparse.
This changed thirty minutes in, as De Cuyper handed it to Vanaken in the centre, pushing forward and finding Vetlesen on the edge of the box taking it one go past a hapless Penders (0-1). Club now pushed ont, and a bit later Vetlesen switched positions, delivering a fine cross to find Vermant, heading for Penders all alone, but the youngster's lob ended up on the wrong side of the post. Next up, Siquet tried his luck from afar, but his shot whizzed over the crossbar. The devil's always in the details in Play Off encounters, and so it was this time: a bad pass by Penders was intercepted by Vermant, and Smets instantly reacted, but brought Vermant down on his way to goal. Since he was the last defender, ref Visser had no other option than to show the talented defender a red card. Down to ten for more than half of the game, KRC Genk now had mountains to climb. De Cuyper's free kick a bit later ended up with Vermant, but he couldn't get a good enough head to it as the ball went over.
With Sattlberger off for Kongolo, the hosts started claiming more possession, looking for that equaliser, but this did not lead to clear danger, except for a long range effort by Hrošovský going over. The hosts maintained a fine organisation, initially refraining from going for that second goal. A debated tactic which almost proved awful as Hrošovský put in a great cross towards Tolu, but Genk's top scorer was unable to get it between the posts, helping Club to a narrow escape. Two minutes later El Ouahdi tried it from an acute angle, but a focused Jackers could not be found at fault.
Club now decided to change tactics, pushing forward bit by bit and trying to find the space it was inevitably offered with the man up situation. A cross found Tzolis inside the box, chesting it and then taking it in one go, but the ball went over. A couple of minutes later, the Greek was launched on the break by Jutglà, cut inside, but his shot lacked quality and ended up in goal kick. The second goal did follow, however, as Vermant pushed on and passed it to the centre, where Vetlesen could not get hold of, letting it run towards Jutglà who neatly tucked it into the far corner (0-2).
After four uneventful minutes of added time, Club secured a vital win, keeping the team firmly behind leaders Union. Another away game awaits on Sunday, as Club makes its way to the Lotto Park to face locals Anderlecht!
Jupiler Pro League – Champions’ Play-offs: Match Day 8
Audience: 23,718 – Cegeka Arena
Ref: Mr. Lawrence Visser
KRC Genk: Mike Penders – Zakaria El Oauhdi, Mujaid Sadick, Matte Smets, Joris Kayembe – Bryan Heynen, Patrik Hrošovský, Nikolas Sattlberger (46’ Josue Kongolo) – Christopher Bonsu Baah (76’ Yira Sor), Tolu Arokodare (76’ Hyeon-gyu Oh), Jarne Steuckers (76’ Noah Adedeji-Sternberg).
Bench: Hendrik Van Crombrugge, Lucca Brughmans, Hyeon-gyu Oh, Ken Nkuba, Adrían Palacios, Josue Kongolo, Yira Sor, Noah Adedeji-Sternberg, Konstantinos Karetsas, Yaimar Medina.
Coach: Thorsten Fink.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers – Hugo Siquet (61’ Bjorn Meijer), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (61’ Ferran Jutglà (90+2’ Michał Skóraś)), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken (80’ Casper Nielsen) – Christos Tzolis, Romeo Vermant (80’ Gustaf Nilsson), Hugo Vetlesen.
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer, Lynnt Audoor, Shandre Campbell, Casper Nielsen, Michał Skóraś, Gustaf Nilsson, Ferran Jutglà.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: Onyedika, Siquet, Bonsu Baah, Vermant, Heynen
Red: Smets
Goals: 32’ Vetlesen (0-1), 66’ Jutglà (0-2)