On match day 13 of the Jupiler Pro League, Club Brugge headed to the Dudenpark to take on league leader Union. The Brussels club took the lead in the first half through Amoura, but Club came alongside in the second half through De Cuyper. However, Amoura became match-winner with his second of the evening and so Club Brugge went down 2-1 on the leader's field.
Blauw-Zwart gained confidence Wednesday by easily beating Beerschot V.A. in the cup game. Nevertheless, coach Deila made some changes in his starting line-up for the topper against Union. In defense, Spileers returned to the center at the expense of Ordóñez and in midfield Nielsen was allowed to start against his former employer. Vetlesen disappeared to the bench and so did Nusa and Thiago. Their places were taken by Zinckernagel and Jutglà, respectively.
It was Club that claimed the ball in the opening stages and tried to get out quickly via Skov Olsen, among others, but for the time being this did not lead to any concrete goal threat. Gradually the home side regained the balance, but not without threatening Mignolet. After 20 minutes the first attempt at goal came from the visitors. Nielsen was able to strike on the edge of the penalty area, but Moris went down well. Union's reply was not long in coming. Ayensa put the ball in front of goal, where the header duel was won by Puertas. This allowed Amoura to go for his chance and via a nice retro he left Mignolet defenseless.
Thanks to the opening goal, Union tanked confidence to take the game to itself. On the half-hour, the same Amoura was sent deep and dribbled past Mechele. He then kicked overhook with the left, but fortunately Mignolet went well flat and Club's goalie had to react immediately after an unfortunate deviation from Spileers. The latter was then fortunately able to clear the leather in time for the goal line. After this threatening moment Blauw-Zwart did try to restore the balance again, but the Bruggelingen did not succeed in breaking Union's organization in the first half. Thus, we went to rest with 1-0....
The same 22 names were on the sheet to start the second half and this time it was the home team that was able to create goal danger early on. Amoura played the ball in the sixteen to Puertas, who kicked straight at goal. Fortunately, the shot went just over Mignolet's cage. A few minutes later Lapoussin tried once from outside the sixteen and Club's goalie prevented the second goal with a clever save. That second goal did hang in the air, as one minute later Puertas found Lazare at the first post with his cross, but he headed just wide. Coach Deila thought it was time to intervene and did so with a triple substitution. Initially, however, the chances kept piling up for the home team. Mignolet remained poised to first tap a free kick from Puertas over the crossbar and shortly thereafter to parry a blast from Castro-Montes. Instead of an imminent second goal for Union, it was Club that came alongside almost out of nowhere! On a pass from Skov Olsen, De Cuyper kicked the equalizer beautifully into the far corner past Moris. This gave the visitors new oxygen, as a few minutes later Skov Olsen was given some space to strike from distance. However, his blast unfortunately went wide of Moris' goal.
The game could have gone either way again and it was the home team that took the lead again. Rodriguez played the ball deep for Amoura, who was quicker than Mechele to beat Mignolet and kick in from a sharp angle. The Bruges coach tried to turn the tide by bringing Thiago onto the field and the Brazilian striker immediately showed with a good move, but Moris was able to intercept his cross. Union, however, remained well organized and managed to keep Club away from their goal. In added time, Vanaken did get another chance through a free kick in an interesting spot, but his effort went over goal via the wall.
In the final minute, the Brusselers had a chance for 3-1 when Spileers was too late to stop Rodriguez and ref Vergoote pointed to the spot. Rodriguez put himself behind the ball, but kicked it wide of the post. Nothing changed and Blauw-Zwart lost 2-1 against leader Union. Thursday, the Swiss Lugano will come to Bruges!
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 13
Spectators: 9.400 - Stade Joseph Marien
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
Royale Union Saint-Gilloise: Anthony Moris - Kevin Mac Allister, Christian Burgess, Koki Machida - Alessio Castro-Montes, Lazare Amani (79' Noah Sadiki), Charles Vanhoutte, Cameron Puertas, Loïc Lapoussin - Dennis Eckert Ayensa (68' Kevin Rodriguez), Mohamed Amoura (82' Mathias Rasmussen).
Bench: Joachim Imbrechts, Maxime Wenssens, Ross Sykes, Noah Sadiki, Mathias Rasmussen, Casper Terho, Elton Kabangu, Kevin Rodriguez, Guillaume François.
Coach: Alexander Blessin.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi (54' Antonio Nusa), Brandon Mechele (80' Igor Thiago), Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer - Éder Balanta (54' Hugo Vetlesen), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen, Ferran Jutglà, Philip Zinckernagel (54' Maxim De Cuyper).
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Joel Ordóñez, Maxim De Cuyper, Hugo Vetlesen, Michał Skóraś, Antonio Nusa, Igor Thiago.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Odoi, Amoura, Vetlesen, Lapoussin, Burgess, Thiago, Spileers
Red cards: none
Goals: 22' Amoura (1-0), 60' De Cuyper (1-1), 68' Amoura (2-1)