Blue-Black closes the season with a 1-3 win at Union Field!

On the last game day of the Champions' Play-Offs, Blauw-Zwart headed to Dudenpark for the game in and against Union. Before halftime both teams failed to score, but this changed soon after halftime. Union took the lead through Adingra, but at the end of the game Blauw-Zwart pulled the match all the way to itself. Homma, Lang and Sandra eventually provided the 1-3 final score. Blue-Black ends the season on a positive note with a win!

For the last game of the season, coach De Mil had to puzzle with his starting lineup. Both Mata and Meijer were injured and Odoi was also absent. Consequently, the young Sabbe made his debut at right back and Buchanan started at left back. Up front both Vermant and Yaremchuk were missing and so the attacking trio consisted of Lang, Nusa and Skov Olsen. At home side Union, there was some doubt for a while as to whether Teuma and Boniface would get fit, but both key players were able to start as usual.

We got a fairly balanced start where both teams were still searching a bit. After 5 minutes the home team had a first threat through Adingra, but his place ball went wide of the goal. Blauw-Zwart responded through Sabbe who got to the back line, but failed to get past Moris. The resulting corner kick was headed wide by Mechele. This was followed by a long period with a lot of ball possession for Club, but without any concrete goal threat. In minute 20, the first big opportunity of the game came for Union. Teuma feigned a kick on the edge of the penalty area, but crossed the ball nicely to the free Adingra. The latter came alone in front of Mignolet, but kicked wide of the goal from close range. Here Club got away well...

This was also the signal for Union to bring some more fire into the match, especially under the impetus of captain Teuma. On the edge of the sixteen he had a little too much time to lay on, but Mignolet had a good parry on his blast. On the half hour, Boniface was sent deep and he did not hesitate to strike from a sharp angle. Mignolet was also in this corner and was able to punch away fairly easily. Eventually the balance was restored quite quickly by Blue-Black and we got another long phase with quite a lot of ball possession for Club, but without any real chances. This went on until the halftime signal, so both teams went to the dressing rooms with a logical 0-0....

The second half had barely got underway or the Duden Park could cheer for the first time. Adingra set up the one-two with Boniface and then placed the leather in the far corner beyond the reach of Mignolet. Blauw-Zwart had to recover for a while, but responded after five minutes through Lang. The Dutchman looked for the shortest corner, but Moris did not allow himself to be surprised. Shortly after, Club was able to break out again through Nusa and his cross was headed into his own goal by Kandouss. Union's reply came from Teuma, but his shot was just sufficiently impeded by Hendry. After this the match was at a standstill again, but in minute 65 Blauw-Zwart tried their luck again. From about 30 meters Skov Olsen tried his luck directly from a free kick, but the colliding ball was no problem for Moris.

In minute 70 it was the home team's turn again through Boniface. He was sent into the depths and then kicked across to goal. The leather fortunately went wide of the post. A few minutes later Puertas put himself behind the ball for a free kick, but Mignolet had a good save to push the ball out of the corner. Moments later it was Nieuwkoop who found the head of Adingra with his cross, but he could not reach the ball sufficiently to be really dangerous. The only goal threat now did come from the home team, as Puertas also went for his chance. However, he popped over Mignolet's cage. This was followed by some substitutions on both sides, including Homma, who joined Club on the pitch. It was indeed the Japanese who kicked the equalizer into the nets at the end of the regular season on a pass from Hendry.

With the home team, this equalizer came very hard and a few minutes later Lang actually brought Club into the lead. Blue-Black got out on the counter-attack and Homma served Lang to score the 1-2. In the end, Union still had to empty the chalice to the bottom, as at the very end Sandra, again on the counter, recorded the final score. Blue-Black ends the season with a win!

Champions' Play-Offs - Playday 6
Spectators: 9,400 - Joseph Marien Stadium
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Union: Anthony Moris - Ismaël Kandouss (90+2' Ross Sykes), Christian Burgess, Koki Machida - Bart Nieuwkoop, Oussama El Azzouzi, Teddy Teuma (63' Cameron Puertas), Lazare Amani (90+2' Yorbe Vertessen), Loic Lapoussin - Victor Boniface, Simon Adingra (83' Gustaf Nilsson).
Bank: Joachim Imbrechts, Dennis Eckert, Guillaume François, Casper Terho, Yorbe Vertessen, Cameron Puertas, Ross Sykes, Arthur De Bolle, Gustaf Nilsson, Nathan Huygevelde, Arnaud Dony.
Coach: Karel Geraerts.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe, Brandon Mechele, Jack Hendry, Tajon Buchanan - Casper Nielsen (84' Cisse Sandra), Hans Vanaken, Mats Rits (88' Shion Homma) - Antonio Nusa (76' Chemsdine Talbi), Noa Lang, Andreas Skov Olsen.
Bank: Josef Bursik, Joaquin Seys, Denzel De Roeve, Sem Audoor, Kamal Sowah, Shion Homma, Chemsdine Talbi, Cisse Sandra.
Coach: Rik De Mil.

Yellow cards: Buchanan, Sandra, Lang
Red cards: none
Goals: 46' Adingra (1-0), 89' Homma (1-1), 90+3' Lang (1-2), 90+10' Sandra (1-3)