On matchday 23 of the Jupiler Pro League, the topper between Union and Club Brugge was on the program at Dudenpark. After half an hour the home team took the lead through Zorgane and this was also the score at halftime. In the second half, both teams still had opportunities, but no more goals were scored. Club lost the topper against Union with the smallest difference.
Blauw-Zwart experienced another one of its historic European nights last Wednesday at its own Jan Breydel Stadium by convincingly beating Marseille to qualify for the next round of the UEFA Champions League. Coach Ivan Leko consequently had little reason to change his starting lineup much for the topper against Union, but we did note two new names among the eleven starters. In defense, Ordóñez was serving his last day of suspension and was replaced by Spileers. In the attacking compartment, perhaps the biggest surprise was Forbs, Diakhon and Tzolis. The latter was thus given preference over Vermant and so there was no real deep striker.
In the opening minutes it was the home team that claimed the ball a bit, but after five minutes the first goal threat did come from the Bruges side. The ball passed quickly from foot to foot in midfield before going wide to Diakhon. The latter cut inside and then targeted the far corner. Sykes, however, threw his head still in the path of the shot and so the leather disappeared into a corner. This early threat did not immediately herald a series of chances, however, because there was no more danger in the following fifteen minutes. Both teams kept each other in balance and this phase was mainly characterized by midfield play and many duels.
Just over halfway the first half, Club got a free kick on the left flank and Tzolis put himself behind the ball. The Greek winger looked for the far post, but the leather ended up going wide of Scherpen's cage. Union responded with a free kick from Schoofs that found Burgess' head at the far post. The latter headed the ball back into the pack and Sykes extended with his head. Eventually the ball could be worked into a corner kick via Spileers. So Union came pressing a bit more in this phase and after half an hour their first really big chance was an instant prize. On a corner kick Sykes won the header and eventually the ball fell at the feet of Zorgane. He did not hesitate to kick the 1-0 past Mignolet from close range. Shortly before halftime, the home side poked their noses in the window once again via a blast from Guilherme. However, Mignolet reacted alertly and pushed the ball across his goal. In the ensuing corner kick, Burgess was able to head. His header was fortunately central to the ground and straight into the hands of Club's goalie. Thus, Blue-Black went to rest with a small deficit....
The same 22 players prepared to start the second half and this time it was the visitors who claimed the ball. The first big opportunity of the second half, however, was for Union. After a good dribble, Mac Allister played the ball to the free David in the sixteen. Fortunately, he popped the ball a little too wildly towards goal and Mignolet did not have to intervene in the end. Just before the hour, Leko made a first intervention by bringing Onyedika aside for Tresoldi, thus increasing the attacking effort. After an hour of play, Union got a free kick in an interesting spot and Schoofs curled the ball over the wall. Fortunately, however, Mignolet was standing right and Club's goalie dived the leather well out of the corner. Shortly afterwards the home team was there again through David who was able to control the ball in the sixteen. He was then also able to decide towards goal from the turn, but his blast was not framed.
David was Union's most dangerous man though, as halfway through the second half he asked for the ball in depth before kicking wide from a sharp angle. After 78 minutes, newcomer Lemaréchal was allowed to make his debut for Club, and at that point the Bruges players also created danger. Forbs got the ball on the side and then played it back centrally for Tresoldi. The latter immediately took a hard shot, but unfortunately could not keep his effort low enough. A few minutes later, though, Blauw-Zwart got off with a scare when David placed the incoming Zeneli alone in front of Mignolet with a heel. The Bruges closing piece came out victorious and prevented the double deficit. At the end of regular playing time, Club had the chance for the equalizer after a rehearsed free kick. Tzolis found the head of Tresoldi, but his header from close range was excellently parried by Scherpen and Vanaken's rebound disappeared over goal.
Finally, three extra minutes were counted, but Club unfortunately did not manage to score the equalizer anymore. The Bruges players lost by the smallest of margins and Union consolidated their leading position.
Jupiler Pro League - Day 23
Spectators: 9,000 - Stade Joseph Marien
Referee: Nathan Verboomen
Union Saint-Gilloise: Kjell Scherpen - Kevin Mac Allister, Christian Burgess, Ross Sykes - Anan Khalaili, Adem Zorgane (79' Besfort Zeneli), Rob Schoofs, Louis Patris - Anouar Ait El Hadj (90' Ousseynou Niang), Promise David (90' Mohammed Fuseini), Guilherme Smith (90+2' Fedde Leysen).
Bench: Vic Chambaere, Giorgi Kavlashvili, Fedde Leysen, Guillaume François, Ivan Pavlic, Besfort Zeneli, Ousseynou Niang, Mateo Biondic, Raul Florucz, Mohammed Fuseini.
Coach: David Hubert.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (89' Hugo Siquet), Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (89' Bjorn Meijer) - Raphael Onyedika (57' Nicolò Tresoldi), Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs (89' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis, Mamadou Diakhon (77' Félix Lemaréchal).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Hugo Siquet, Vince Osuji, Bjorn Meijer, Cisse Sandra, Hugo Vetlesen, Félix Lemaréchal, Nicolò Tresoldi, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Yellow cards: Diakhon, Sykes, Mechele, Zorgane, Burgess
Red cards: none
Goals: 31' Zorgane (1-0)