On match day 10 of the Jupiler Pro League, Blauw-Zwart traveled to the fiery Sclessin to take on Standard. After 10 minutes, the home team took the lead after a crisp header by Bokadi. At the end of the match, Skov Olsen scored the deserved equalizer, but minutes later Price delivered the 2-1 win for Standard in extremis.
Blauw-Zwart gained confidence Thursday by taking an important three-point lead against Bodø/Glimt in difficult circumstances. Coach Deila consequently had little reason to change his starting line-up much for the topper against Standard. Meijer, Nusa and Skov Olsen were some of the important pawns that returned to the selection and it was the latter who was allowed to start immediately (at the expense of Skóraś). The other change took place in the striker position, where Jutglà was preferred to Thiago this time. A striking fact was the fact that both Zinckernagel and coach Deila faced their former team. This was also the case for coach Hoefkens, who was now in Standard's dugout.
It was Club that immediately claimed the ball in the opening stages and passed the ball well from foot to foot. This did not lead to any concrete goal threat, however, and unfortunately Standard's first counter-punch was a direct hit. A free kick by Kawabe found the head of Bokadi, who headed the ball beautifully into the net. The VAR checked for offside, but the goal was approved. The momentum shifted to the home team after this goal, as just under 10 minutes later Mignolet had to prevent the double lead. Kanga was sent deep and then popped towards the top left corner, but Club's goalie had a nice parry in hand. One minute later, Hayden was able to decide from a corner kick, but his effort from close range went over goal.
Consequently, the visitors struggled to get back into the match, but out of nowhere an excellent chance fell from the sky. Vanaken painted the ball delightfully onto the head of Jutglà, but unfortunately he could not frame his header. Shortly after, Club was there again, but Zinckernagel's close-range blast was blocked in extremis by both Fossey and Hayden. Blue-Black thus became stronger, but just at that moment the Rouches showed themselves dangerous again. Kawabe reacted alertly to a dropped ball and popped hard at Mignolet. A few minutes later the Bruges goalkeeper had to react alertly again when Ngoy dribbled through the defense and was able to deviate the ball towards goal. The game continued to go up and down well, as shortly before halftime we noted two good opportunities for Club in a short space of time. On the first attempt, Bodart had to intervene by pushing away a free kick from Zinckernagel from under the crossbar. Then De Cuyper went for his chance with a surprising crossed shot, but the post prevented the equalizer. Another excellent chance for the equalizer followed on the stroke of half-time, but Bodart tackled with a clever save on Zinckernagel's curl. Thus we went to rest with a 1-0 deficit....
The same 22 tenors prepared for the second half and in it, as in the first, it was Club that tried to put pressure forward at the beginning. However, the first concrete danger, also as in the first game, was for Standard. Kanga got the ball in the penalty area, but his shot was a bit too hasty and went wide. The second half initially had far fewer goal chances, but on the hour Bodart intervened strongly. Skov Olsen came in in his typical way to fish out the far corner. Standard's goalie, however, floated the leather beautifully out of his goal. Shortly thereafter, coach Deila made four substitutions at the same time. Thiago and Nusa, among others, came on the field to turn the tide.
The latter provided new offensive impetus and forced Bodart to make a save with a distance shot around minute 70. At the corner kick that followed, Skov Olsen tried at one time from outside the sixteen. However, the Danish winger could not keep the ball low, so his attempt posed no danger to Bodart. Blue-Black kept up the pressure and now Nusa was very often sought. With a brilliant action he put two defenders in the wind before kicking to the short corner. Bodart unfortunately had a gifted day and kept this attempt out of his nets as well. The equalizer was inevitable...and it eventually came! Skov Olsen seemed to have been struggling with an injury for some time, but he of all people kicked the well-deserved equalizer from the position and into the net via the post.
Club seemed to be going up and over Standard, but at the end of the regular playing time they got a major blow. Kanga laid the ball backwards for Price and his kick, via a deviation from Nielsen, hit the nets in the far corner. Blauw-Zwart deserved more, but remained empty-handed in Sclessin.
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 10
Spectators: 27.670 - Maurice Dufrasnestadion
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
Standard: Arnaud Bodart - Zinho Vanheusden, Merveille Bope Bokadi, Nathan Ngoy - Marlon Fossey (68' Gilles Dewaele), Isaac Heyden (80' Aiden O'Neill), Steven Alzate, Hayao Kawabe (68' Isaac Price), Moussa Djenepo (80' Cihan Canak) - Kamal Sowah, Wilfried Kanga (90+4' Noah Ohio).
Bench: Laurent Henkinet, Gilles Dewaele, Isaac Price, Aiden O'Neill, Cihan Canak, Noah Ohio, William Balikwisha.
Coach: Carl Hoefkens.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi (61' Tajon Buchanan), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken, Hugo Vetlesen (61' Casper Nielsen) - Andreas Skov Olsen, Ferran Jutglà (61' Igor Thiago), Philip Zinckernagel (61' Antonio Nusa).
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Kyani Vroman, Joel Ordóñez, Bjorn Meijer, Tajon Buchanan, Casper Nielsen, Antonio Nusa, Igor Thiago.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Hayden, Djenepo, Skov Olsen, Kanga, Ohio
Red cards: none
Goals: 11' Bokadi (1-0), 85' Skov Olsen (1-1), 90' Price (2-1)