After the convincing win in the first leg, Blauw-Zwart had to secure qualification in the return game against AGF Aarhus. The home side broke the deadlock quickly via Beijmo and that was immediately the final score, which means Club goes through to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa Conference League.
Blauw-Zwart grabbed one point on the opening fixture of the new domestic season following a 1-1 draw with KV Mechelen. Ronny Deila had made three changes to the side which drew 1-1 with KV Mechelen on Sunday. Rits, Nusa and Thiago dropped to the bench and there were starts for Vetlesen, Skóras and Vermant respectively. Skov Olsen was among the starters as well, despite his injury against Mechelen.
The match couldn not have started worse for Club as the home side opened the scoring after just three minutes play when a corner kick was headed through to the far post where Beijmo was lurking to tap home. Club needed some time to recover from this early goal and spent much of the first half trying to recover.
Midway the first half Aarhus were close to a second goal when Kristensen rose highest to meet with Knudsen's cross, but Mignolet went down quickly to tip it around the goalpost. Ten minutes later Tingager was unmarked to head in on a free-kick, but the ball sailed over the target. Just before half-time Club carved out a first good chance to level things up. Skov Olsen squared it to De Cuyper who whipped in a cross towards Vermant, but his header went wide.
Deila made two changes at half-time, keeping Skóras and Vermant in the dressing room for Nusa and Thiago. The second half started with chances on both ends. First Skov Olsen's cross just evaded Nusa and at the other side Mignolet had to palm away an effort and the following corner was headed over the crossbar. Club responded through Mechele, but his header was too central and the goalkeeper saved easily.
Both managers made a host of substitutions as the game proceeded, but that didn't favour the level of play. Club created the best chance on minute 78 when Vanaken feeded the ball into the path of Nusa but the Norwegian youngster failed to get the ball post Peacock-Farrell from close range. Just before the end Nusa played the ball through De Cuyper, but the left full-back skied his finish.
Aarhus tried to make the game interesting again in stoppage time via a Mortenson header, but the ball went over the bar. Blauw-Zwart loses the return game, but proceeds to the next round.
UEFA Europa Conference League – Second qualifying round (2nd leg)
Attendance: 20.032 – Ceres Park Arena
Referee: Atilla Karaoglan (Tur)
AGF Aarhus: Bailey Peacock-Farrell – Michael Akoto, Frederik Tingager, Thomas Kristensen - Felix Beijmo (74’ Tobias Mölgaard), Tobias Bech (74’ Adam Daghim), Nicolai Poulsen, Magnus Knudsen (82’ Mads Emil Madsen), Eric Kahl – Janni Serra (57’ Patrick Mortenson), Mikael Anderson (57’ Peter Bjur).
Bench: Jesper Hansen, Jonathan Hutters, Mads Emil Madsen, Patrick Mortenson, Tobias Mölgaard, Mikkel Duelund, Peter Bjur, Zachary Duncan, Jacob Andersen, Adam Daghim, Frederik Brandhof, Mathias Dahl Sauer.
Coach: Uwe Rösler.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan (83’ Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken, Hugo Vetlesen (90+2’ Casper Nielsen) - Andreas Skov Olsen (75’ Mats Rits), Romeo Vermant (46’ Igor Thiago), Michal Skóras (46’ Antonio Nusa).
Bench: Nick Shinton, Joel Ordóñez, Denis Odoi, Victor Barberá, Mats Rits, Casper Nielsen, Antonio Nusa, Shion Homma, Kyriani Sabbe, Igor Thiago.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Skov Olsen, Bech, Akoto, Vermant, Knudsen, Rits
Red cards: none
Goals: 3’ Beijmo (1-0)