On matchday 12 of the Jupiler Pro League, Club Brugge headed to the Bosuil for the always fraught duel against Antwerp. Early in the first half, Vermant gave Club the lead and 0-1 at halftime. In the second half, Antwerp pressed on, but Club managed to pull off a narrow victory.
Blauw-Zwart had to acknowledge its superiority against machine Bayern Munich last Wednesday. Coach Nicky Hayen also had to acknowledge that and for the confrontation against Antwerp he decided to make two changes in his starting line-up. In defense Meijer had to give up his place to Seys and in attack Tresoldi disappeared to the bench. As a result, Vermant was selected to score the goals together with Tzolis and Forbs. Finally, for the home team, two players made their debut in the starting line-up, Hamdaoui and Kouyaté.
It was the visitors who got off to the best start, which resulted in an opportunity for Tzolis within the first few minutes. Stanković played the Greek winger free with a nice long pass and the latter then came in in his familiar way to take a shot. Unfortunately, his shot was eventually blocked, but Club showed its intentions right away. Five minutes later there was a first reaction from Antwerp through Adekami, but his effort from distance went high over the Jackers' cage and was therefore harmless. Moments later, however, the Bruges players scored! Vermant seemed to lose the ball at first, but kept going anyway and was able to strike with his left from the halfway line. His crossed shot landed beyond the reach of Nozawa and so the early lead was on the board for Club. After twenty minutes, there was a moment of terror when Ordóñez choked a bit when taking the ball in his own sixteen. Adekami was able to take advantage, but his effort from close range was fortunately blocked in extremis by Stanković.
About halfway the first half a long period followed in which Blauw-Zwart had control of the game by being well organized. Antwerp had most ball possession in this phase, but failed to create any concrete danger from it. Shortly before half-time, Club was able to switch quickly and Audoor found Tzolis on the side. The latter immediately tried to put the ball low in front of goal, but Nozawa anticipated well and neutralized the danger. On the stroke of halftime, the visitors showed themselves once again and ei so after the double lead was on the board. After the ball was lost by Adekami, Vermant was able to get hold of the ball and in the penalty area the striker from Bruges put it well back for Tzolis. He had the opportunity to make it 0-2, but his left kicked over the goal. Coach Hayen saw his team go into halftime with a small lead...
At the start of the second half, we noted one change and more specifically at Antwerp. The industrious Adekami remained in the dressing room and was replaced by Al-Sahafi. Initially, this did not change much in the game, as it was Club that passed the ball well in the vicinity of the home team's penalty area. For now, however, this yielded no more than blocked attempts by Tzolis and Seys. Antwerp responded with opportunities for Tsunashima and Foulon, but Jackers was not embarrassed by this. Neither was a moment later on a shot by Diawara into the hands of the Bruges goalie, but the home team did get more and more involved. That resulted shortly after in the chance for the equalizer when Al-Sahafi was sent deep into the box. He then laid back for Hamdaoui, but fortunately he could not frame his shot from close range. Club responded moments later through Tzolis, who was able to take the ball after Van Den Bosch missed. Eventually the Greek winger was able to make the decision, but the shot ended up in the side netting.
Halfway through the second half, the visitors from Bruges showed themselves once again through a free kick by Meijer, but Nozawa did not let himself be surprised. Immediately after this came perhaps the biggest chance for the equalizer for 'The Great Old'. Foulon flicked the ball dangerously in front of goal and there Janssen popped up in front of Jackers. However, the Dutch striker failed to press from close range, leaving Club's goalie with the scare. The reaction of the Brugge players was not long in coming, as Tzolis was able to take a free kick at the far post. However, Nozawa reacted very alertly and picked out a fine save on the corner kick. The game now went well up and down, as first Al-Sahafi was flagged off for offside after he decided on Jackers and shortly after, Meijer went for his chance with a volley from the second line straight at Nozawa. Following this phase, however, came a knock-on for the Dutch left back when he had to go to the side with a muscle injury.
In the end, four extra minutes were counted, but in this, nothing more changed the score. Vermant's goal early in the first half thus sufficed for a narrow but important win for Blauw-Zwart. On Wednesday, Club takes on Eendracht Aalst in the Croky Cup!
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 12
Spectators: 16,144 - Bosuilstadion
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
R Antwerp FC: Taishi Brandon Nozawa - Kiki Kouyaté, Zeno Van Den Bosch, Yuto Tsunashima - Thibo Somers, Mauricio Benítez, Mahamadou Diawara (84' Anthony Valencia), Daam Foulon - Youssef Hamdaoui (66' Isaac Babadi), Vincent Janssen, Farouck Adekami (46' Marwan Al-Sahafi).
Bench: Yannick Thoelen, Kobe Corbanie, Marwan Al-Sahafi, Isaac Babadi, Anthony Valencia, Glenn Bijl, Rosen Bozhinov, Christopher Scott, Gabriel Jesus David.
Coach: Stef Wils.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (62' Bjorn Meijer (85' Hugo Siquet)) - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Lynnt Audoor (62' Nicolò Tresoldi) - Carlos Forbs, Romeo Vermant, Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Argus Vanden Driessche, Jorne Spileers, Hugo Siquet, Bjorn Meijer, Hugo Vetlesen, Cisse Sandra, Mamadou Diakhon, Nicolò Tresoldi, Gustaf Nilsson.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Benítez, Somers, Jackers
Red cards: none
Goal: 12' Vermant (0-1)