On match day 11 of the Jupiler Pro League, Club Brugge traveled to Den Dreef to take on OH Leuven. In the first half, both teams had some opportunities, but did not score. That did happen after halftime when Tzolis scored the only goal of the game. Club can go to Bayern Munich with a good feeling....
Just before the international break, Blauw-Zwart did an excellent job by winning the topper against Union 1-0. Coach Nicky Hayen therefore had little reason to make many changes to his starting line-up. Eventually he did make two changes. In defense, Ordóñez got some rest and Spileers was allowed to start. A final change then took place in midfield where Sandra regained confidence at the expense of Vermant. Up front, Forbs, Tzolis and Tresoldi once again had to provide the goals.
It was the home team that immediately looked to attack and this resulted in an opportunity for Akimoto as early as the first minute. The Japanese had plenty of time and space on his flank to push through and then kicked from a somewhat sharp angle. Fortunately, Jackers was immediately awake and responded alertly with a leg sweep. Five minutes later, the Leuveners were there again via a quick counterattack. Schrijvers ran free well and was eventually able to serve Maertens, but he had to wait a bit for the ball. His shot with the left fortunately posed no danger to Jackers. Club's reaction did not last, as after a brilliant long ball from Stanković, Tzolis was able to control the ball and come inside. The Greek winger targeted the far top corner, but he just couldn't keep the ball low enough. On the quarter hour it was OHL's turn again where Schrijvers dived into the back of the Bruges defense. He quickly kicked towards goal, but fortunately his somewhat squatted effort went wide at the far post. Moments later, Club's goalie had to intervene on a low shot by Ikwuemesi and again with his feet he neutralized the goal threat.
Blauw-Zwart was not really in the game against an eager OH Leuven, but just before the half hour mark, the Bruggelingen had the lead anyway. Vanaken had time and space to run up with the ball at his feet and the captain saw that the far corner was somewhat open. The ball went just wide of the post, but this was the most dangerous opportunity for the visitors so far. The Leuven storm had subsided a bit in the meantime and Maertens' header into Jackers' hands was all they could manage. Club also failed to create any more chances, so we rested with a glass-score...
The second half started with one change on the Bruges side, namely Seys was allowed to stay in the dressing room and so Sabbe made his appearance. Initially it was again OHL who looked to attack, but the first real danger after five minutes came from Brugge. On a corner the ball went low to Forbs, but he was prevented somewhat by ref Verbeke. Still, Leysen had to spring into action to tap the arcing ball away from under his crossbar. Shortly after, the OH Leuven goalie had to come into action again when Tresoldi was able to strike from a sharp angle from close range, but Leysen reacted alertly with a leg sweep. However, it remained difficult to create any major goal threat and Hayen intervened by bringing on Audoor, Ordóñez and Diakhon, among others.
Fifteen minutes before the end of regular playing time, it was a prize for Blauw-Zwart! Daikhon drove up with the ball at foot and then sought out his opponent in the sixteen. He may or may not have been fouled, but in the remainder of this phase Tzolis reacted the quickest to pop the leather past Leysen from close range. The deserved Bruges lead was finally a reality and this gave extra confidence to the visitors' ball. In this way, we were soon in the closing stages of the match to note any further danger. That came from the foot of Vanaken, but the captain missed his shot somewhat from just outside the sixteen. OHL could only counter that with a shot from Pletinckx into the hands of Jackers.
Four minutes of extra time were eventually counted, but in it no more chances were scored and thus nothing more changed the score. Club therefore wins with the smallest difference and can go into Wednesday's game against Bayern Munich with a good feeling!
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday11
Spectators: 10.020 - King Power at Den Dreef Stadium
Referee: Bert Verbeke
Oud-Heverlee Leuven: Tobe Leysen - Ewoud Pletinckx, Noë Dussenne, Takuma Ominami - Óscar Gil, Siebe Schrijvers (18' Wouter George), Lukasz Lakomy, Takahiro Akimoto - Mathieu Maertens (74' Abdoul Karim Traoré), Chukwubuikem Ikwuemesi (74' Sory Kaba), Youssef Maziz (55' Jovan Mijatović).
Bench: Maxence Prévot, Théo Radelet, Wouter George, Davies Opoku, Abdoul Karim Traoré, Henok Teklab, Sory Kaba, Jovan Mijatović, Roggerio Nyakossi, Thibaud Verlinden.
Coach: Hans Somers.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Joaquin Seys (46' Kyriani Sabbe), Jorne Spileers (67' Joel Ordóñez), Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Cisse Sandra (57' Lynnt Audoor) - Carlos Forbs (67' Mamadou Diakhon), Nicolò Tresoldi (87' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Argus Vanden Driessche, Joel Ordóñez, Hugo Siquet, Kyriani Sabbe, Hugo Vetlesen, Lynnt Audoor, Romeo Vermant, Mamadou Diakhon, Shandre Campbell.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Meijer, Ominami, Gil
Red cards: none
Goal: 77' Tzolis (0-1)