Duden Park was the battleground for the return match between Union Saint-Gilloise and Club Brugge in the Croky Cup semifinals. In the first half there were chances on both sides, but no goals. In the second half, Union took the lead through Amoura and at the very end, Sykes struck the heavy verdict for Club. Union goes to the cup final....
Blauw-Zwart lost 1-2 to rival RSC Anderlecht on Sunday, but defended a 2-1 lead from the outward game in the cup against Union. Coach Deila made one change in each line-up. In defense, Ordóñez got another chance in place of Spileers. In midfield, Vetlesen disappeared to the bench in favor of Balanta and, in the offensive compartment, Thiago returned from suspension. Nusa had not traveled to Brussels and so Skov Olsen and Jutglà played in support of the Brazilian striker.
It was Club that immediately claimed the ball in the opening stages and this resulted fairly quickly in an opportunity for Skov Olsen. De Cuyper played the ball wide to the Danish winger, who came in in his typical manner to then fish the far corner. His attempt, however, landed above Moris' goal. Five minutes later, the home side's response followed through Puertas, but he cracked his shot somewhat and so Mignolet at the first post did not have to intervene. A first moment of turmoil followed after 10 minutes when Teklab was able to run to Mignolet at speed and was stopped by De Cuyper. In the end, the ref did not have to make a decision on whether or not to call a penalty, as Teklab had gone just a little too early and was consequently flagged for offside. The goal threat continued to come from Brussels' foot though. De Cuyper misjudged a high ball, allowing Amoura to play the ball to Nilsson. He took an immediate shot from an acute angle, but Mignolet went flat quickly.
A little over halfway through the first half, Blauw-Zwart got away well when Union missed the chance for a lead. Machida played well deep in the sixteen for Teklab, who took the ball to the penalty spot. There Nilsson smartly ran for Rasmussen, but the latter fortunately kicked the open goal opportunity over Mignolet's cage. On the half hour, Club did respond once through Vanaken who was able to extend a corner kick from De Cuyper with his head, but Vanhoutte cleared the leather in front of the goal line. A few minutes later, it was the turn of Thiago who (on the edge of offside?) was able to head towards Moris. His kick was still deviated by Burgess and so the ball disappeared via the post into a corner kick. Five minutes before the end of the first half, Vanhoutte took his chance from distance, but his shot went wide without Mignolet having to intervene. On the stroke of half-time there was another great opportunity for the visitors from Bruges, but Vanaken could not get the ball past Moris from close range. We rested without a goal after an intense first half...
There were no new substitutions at the start of the second half and this time it was the home team that came out of the locker room the brightest, but admittedly without threatening Mignolet. After 10 minutes, Club had the chance for 0-1 when Thiago slipped through the offside trap and was able to pass to Moris. Unfortunately, the Brazilian did not get the leather past the Union goalie and in the retrieval Skov Olsen kicked over goal. A little after the hour, Moris again had a starring role. First he reacted alertly when Thiago was free to head in on a corner kick, and almost immediately after that he also stopped a shot by Skov Olsen. Thiago was then off balance to frame the rebound. The game was now going back and forth well, as an opportunity for Union also followed. Vanhoutte had some space to kick from the edge of the sixty, but Mignolet also stood a good game and pushed the leather wide of his goal.
Twenty minutes before the end of regular playing time, the opening goal fell anyway. Blauw-Zwart failed to clear the ball from their penalty area and the ball ended up at the feet of Amoura. He did not hesitate and kicked the 1-0 lead past Mignolet into the nets. The home side had smelled blood and immediately went in search of a second goal. That came, but fortunately Nielsen was in the path of Puertas' shot. A few minutes later Club was dealt another blow when Mignolet indicated he could not continue, and he was replaced by Jackers. The visitors from Bruges systematically regained the balance though and were able to threaten briefly through Skóraś, but his curl went wide of Moris' goal.
Croky Cup - Semi-Final (return match)
Spectators: 9,400 - Stade Joseph Marien
Referee: Lothar D'hondt
Union SG: Anthony Moris - Kevin Mac Allister (20' Ross Sykes), Christian Burgess, Koki Machida - Alessio Castro-Montes, Charles Vanhoutte, Henok Teklab, Mathias Rasmussen (67' Lazare Amani), Cameron Puertas - Mohammed Amoura, Gustaf Nilsson.
Bench: Heinz Lindner, Ross Sykes, Noah Sadiki, Lazare Amani, Casper Terho, Elton Kabangu, Dennis Eckert Ayensa.
Coach: Alexander Blessin.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet (85' Nordin Jackers) - Maxim De Cuyper, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Éder Balanta (72' Hugo Vetlesen), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen, Igor Thiago, Ferran Jutglà (85' Michał Skóraś).
Bank: Josef Bursik, Nordin Jackers, Denis Odoi, Jorne Spileers, Raphael Onyedika, Hugo Vetlesen, Chemsdine Talbi, Michał Skóraś, Víctor Barberà.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Vanaken, Rasmussen, Vanhoutte
Red cards: De Cuyper
Goals: 74' Amoura (1-0), 90+3' Sykes (2-0)
