Club Brugge kicked off the return round of the Jupiler Pro League with a home game against Dender. The visitors took the lead after fifteen minutes through Kvet, but Club recovered before halftime after goals from Jutglà and Skov Olsen. In the closing stages of the match, the score was eventually extended after two goals from the substitute Talbi. Thus, the Bruggelingen continue their good series and Tuesday awaits a cup meeting with Patro Eisden Maasmechelen.
Blauw-Zwart played another strong game in the UEFA Champions League last Wednesday, but in the end had to be satisfied with a draw against Celtic FC. Coach Hayen was left with mixed feelings, but was satisfied with the result. For the confrontation against Dender, he remained confident in the same starting eleven. For example, the attacking compartment again consisted of Skov Olsen, Jutglà and Tzolis.
As perhaps expected, it was the home team that immediately claimed the ball and looked for Verrips' goal. That produced a first opportunity for Skov Olsen after six minutes, but his attempt was blocked by Goncalves and so Dender's goalie did not have to intervene. After fifteen minutes, the game was clear: Dender went down and Club had to look for openings in the defensive block. Consequently, the visitors lurked on the counter and in minute sixteen they scored the opening goal. Ferraro played the ball in the box to Scheidler, who kept a good overview to put the ball in the path of Kvet. The latter could easily tap in and put Club on the chase. Blauw-Zwart responded fairly quickly through Tzolis, but the Greek winger's shot went wide of the goal.
Halfway through the first half the signs hung in balance anyway! Jutglà set up the attack himself by finding the one-two with Skov Olsen. Face to face with Verrips, the Catalan striker remained calm to net the equalizer. The Bruges players had smelled blood and tried to push forward to quickly secure that lead. Jashari tried with a blast from twenty yards, but Verrips boxed the leather well out of his cage. Skov Olsen immediately got another attempt, but his curl went several meters wide of the far post. On the half hour the Danish winger once again ventured his chance, but this time the ball landed on the roof of the goal via a Denderse defender. Third time lucky...Skov Olsen must have thought, because a few minutes later it was a winner! Jashari played the ball sideways to his Danish teammate, who kicked from outside the sixteen immediately with inside foot to the short corner. His shot fit perfectly next to the post and so Blauw-Zwart had grabbed its deserved lead. Just like last week against STVV, Club now had the intention to look for more goals. First De Cuyper just couldn't reach a Tzolis cross and a bit later Jutglà couldn't give enough power and direction to his header on a De Cuyper cross. Just before halftime, Tzolis also went for his own chance, but his shot was too central to really worry Verrips. This was not the last goal threat of the first half, because in the added time it went up and down. First Mignolet had to show his skills on a header by Kvet and almost immediately afterwards Vanaken found Tzolis in the box with a subtle ball. He was able to get in close, but Verrips' toe made sure the ball hit the post. So we rested with a small lead for the home team....
The second half started with one change for the visitors. Goalkeeper Verrips was somewhat uncertain before the match and at halftime he was replaced by Devriendt. The first fifteen minutes of the second half were almost identical to the first half. Club had the ball possession, but struggled to find openings in Dender's double defensive belt. A little after the hour, coach Hayen made a double change and brought Jashari and Seys to the side for Vetlesen and Sabbe. The latter almost immediately caused danger with a placed shot with his left, but the leather was eventually deflected into a corner. Meanwhile, Dender continued to watch out for a counter-punch, as the margin remained tight.
After 73 minutes Dender came up and Ferraro put the ball in front of goal. There Rôdes was able to place his head against the ball, but fortunately De Cuyper was able to hinder him sufficiently. Nicky Hayen decided to make another double substitution and brought Skóraś and Talbi onto the field. The pace in the second half was a little too slow at Club and the Brugge players realized that too. After 80 minutes, they started looking a little harder again for that third goal, but Ordóñez and a little later Skóraś could not frame their attempt. A few minutes later, a quick breakout from Club took place through Jutglà. Eventually the ball was played to Vanaken, but the captain made the wrong decision by still wanting to lay off for Vetlesen. At the end of regular playing time, the liberating goal fell! Sabbe recovered the ball and then sent a nice cross pass into Talbi's path. The young substitute did not hesitate and popped the 3-1 past Devriendt.
Three minutes of extra time were counted and in it the score deepened, so to speak. Skóraś had plenty of space and time to lay on in the sixteen, but Devriendt initially parried his shot well. Talbi, however, followed well and was unable to miss his second of the evening. So Blauw-Zwart still booked a big win and continued its good series. A cup confrontation against Patro Eisden Maasmechelen awaits on Tuesday!
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 16
Spectators: 29,042 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Bert Put
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (62' Kyriani Sabbe), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari (62' Hugo Vetlesen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (75' Michał Skóraś), Ferran Jutglà (88' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis (75' Chemsdine Talbi).
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Hugo Siquet, Kyriani Sabbe, Hugo Vetlesen, , Casper Nielsen, Michał Skóraś, Romeo Vermant, Chemsdine Talbi.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
FCV Dender EH: Michael Verrips (46' Julien Devriendt) - Karol Fila (24' David Hrncar), Gilles Ruyssen, Kobe Cools, Bryan Goncalves (57' Ragnar Oratmangoen), Joedrick Pupe - Nathan Rôdes, Roman Kvet, Fabio Ferraro (80' Ali Akman) - Mohamed Berte (57' Bruny Nsimba), Aurélien Scheidler.
Bank: Julien Devriendt, Jordy Soladio, Ragnar Oratmangoen, Bruny Nsimba, Desmond Acquah, David Hrncar, Lennard Hens, Ali Akman, Ridwane M'Barki.
Coach: Vincent Euvrard.
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Goals: 16' Kvet (0-1), 24' Jutglà (1-1), 33' Skov Olsen (2-1), 89' Talbi (3-1), 90+1' Talbi (4-1)