Blue-Black goes down 1-3 against KRC Genk

On match day 5 of the Champions' Play-Offs, Blauw-Zwart hosted KRC Genk for its final home game. The visitors started the match best and took the lead through Paintsil. After half-time Vanaken was able to head in the equalizer, but at the end of the match KRC Genk pulled the sheet to themselves after goals from Hrosovsky and Paintsil.

After last week's pleasing and deserved victory against Antwerp, coach De Mil normally had little reason to make many substitutions. However, 4 changes had to be made to the starting line-up. Mata, Yaremchuk and Sylla were not fit enough and were not part of the squad. In addition, Lang was suspended and so some other guys got their chance. Hendry, Nielsen, Vermant and Nusa showed their skills from the kick-off. The visitors from Genk made no changes to their starting line-up.

It was the visitors who got off to the best start and claimed the ball. Initially, this did not lead to goal danger, but the first opportunity came from KRC Genk. Heynen sent a nice ball towards Muñoz, but the latter headed wide. Immediately after this the biggest chance followed and it was for the home team. Vermant was sent deep and could also kick at goal, but Vandevoordt hit the bar with an ultimate reflex. Bad luck for Club and a new setback followed shortly after. Arokodare deviated a cross with his head and the ball ended up at the feet of the lone Paintsil. He did not hesitate and floored Mignolet with a corner kick. A few minutes after the opening goal, Blauw-Zwart almost doubled the score. This time Mignolet reacted well with an excellent reflex on a deviation of the same Paintsil.

Blauw-Zwart was not really in the game against an eager KRC Genk that could still threaten through Sor and Muñoz. Moments later, Club put its nose to the window, but Meijer's shot was blocked. This was the signal to put more pressure in front, and that was rewarded. Meijer brought the ball low in front of goal and there they couldn't get the leather away. Finally Rits got the ball past Vandevoordt, but Arteaga saved on the goal line in extremis. This was followed by a rather sloppy phase along both sides, but in the end it was Club that took control again. Vanaken put the ball tightly in front of goal and Vandevoordt was forced to punch away. Shortly after, Onyedika tried once, but his cracked shot went over the goal. In the end, no more goals were scored and we rested 0-1....

The second half started with one new name on both sides, namely Buchanan replaced Meijer and for the visitors Samatta came on the field for Arokodare. This time it was Blauw-Zwart that digested the break best, as a good opportunity immediately followed for Nusa. However, his blast from close range unfortunately whizzed over Vandevoordt's cage. Just under 10 minutes later Club put a nice attack on the mat via Odoi, Vermant and finally Buchanan. The Canadian winger tried to put the ball into the far corner with an inside foot, but it went just wide of the post. The danger continued to come from the Bruges side, but Nusa did not find the goal either. His curled shot was deflected into a corner. Just past the hour mark, KRC Genk had their first chance of the second half. The substitute El Khannouss tested Mignolet's fists, but he was not surprised. This was the signal for the home team to press the gas pedal again and it paid off! Vanaken timed best on a corner kick and headed the deserved equalizer against the nets.

Bruges continued to press through an industrious Nusa, but he was unlucky in his finishing. This time he came inside again, but his placed shot went over the goal. Nielsen was the next author to try, but his breakaway shot did not find the goal frame either. About 10 minutes before the end, it was still KRC Genk that, almost out of nowhere, took another lead. Samatta first mowed wide of the ball, but Hrosovsky did manage to beat Mignolet in two turns. Club did not recover from this setback and a few minutes later it was also definitely booked. Paintsil was sent deep and remained calm only for Mignolet to make his second of the evening. Club did try to go back, but Vermant failed to outsmart Vandevoordt.

In the added time there were chances on both sides through Odoi and El Khannouss, but neither found their way to goal. Rits did, but his tying goal was disallowed for offside. Nothing more changed the score and the game ended 1-3. Next week three teams compete for the title....

Champions' Play-Offs - Game Day 5
Spectators: 29,042 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele, Jack Hendry, Bjorn Meijer (46' Tajon Buchanan) - Raphael Onyedika (89' Shion Homma), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken, Mats Rits - Antonio Nusa (83' Chemsdine Talbi), Romeo Vermant (89' Cisse Sandra).
Bench: Josef Bursik, Nick Shinton, Kyriani Sabbe, Tajon Buchanan, Kamal Sowah, Shion Homma, Chemsdine Talbi, Cisse Sandra.
Coach: Rik De Mil.
KRC Genk: Maarten Vandevoordt - Daniel Muñoz, Mark McKenzie, Carlos Cuesta, Gerardo Arteaga - Joseph Paintsil, Bryan Heynen (72' Aziz Ouatarra), Mike Trésor (83' Ángelo Preciado), Patrik Hrosovsky, Yira Sor (61' Bilal El Khannouss) - Tolu Arokodare (46' Mbwana Ally Samatta).
Bank: Vic Chambaere, Tobe Leysen, Mujaid Sadick, Aziz Ouatarra, Mbwana Ally Samatta, Anouar Ait El Hadj, Rasmus Carstensen, Luca Oyen, Bilal El Khannouss, Ángelo Preciado.
Coach: Wouter Vrancken.

Yellow cards: Odoi, Paintsil
Red cards: none
Goals: 12' Paintsil (0-1), 64' Vanaken (1-1), 81' Hrosovsky (1-2), 86' Paintsil (1-3)