On match day 3 of the UEFA Europa Conference League, Blue-Black traveled to Switzerland to take on Lugano. On the quarter hour, Balanta opened the score and after halftime it was doubled after a blast from Skov Olsen. Lugano came back into the game after Vladi's tying goal, but eventually Vanaken provided the 1-3 final score. Club takes the lead in their pool!
Blauw-Zwart suffered a 1-0 defeat against KV Kortrijk last weekend, prompting coach Deila to make some substitutions in his starting line-up. In defense, Meijer got his chance at the expense of De Cuyper, but most of the changes took place in midfield. The team opted for experience and defensive stability with Nielsen and Balanta. Consequently, Vetlesen and Onyedika were relegated to the bench. Finally, Nusa also had to content himself with a substitute role, as Zinckernagel started together with Skov Olsen in support of deep striker Thiago.
In the opening minutes of the match, the home team got the ball, but it was Club that created the first goal threat. Zinckernagel received the ball from Vanaken and then dribbled his way between two defenders. The ensuing shot was a little too central, allowing goalkeeper Saipi to clear the ball with his feet. Lugano did play well, but could not really threaten Mignolet. Club did succeed in doing so, as on the quarter hour mark the Bruges fans were allowed a first cheer. Zinckernagel brought the ball sharply in front of goal and there Balanta dived well to the ball to head the lead against the nets. Blue-Black tanked confidence with this goal and controlled the match.
A little over halfway through the first half, Nielsen tried his luck from distance. The Danish midfielder took a dropped ball nicely on the volley, but his shot went just wide of Saipi's cage. The first half stood out mainly because of a lot of midfield play, but without many big chances. Shortly before halftime, the visitors from Bruges were able to threaten anyway. Skov Olsen ran deep and received the ball in the air from Nielsen. The Danish winger immediately tried to head towards goal, but the ball went over the goal. There might have been more in this, as Skov Olsen was all alone and not in an offside position. In the added time of the first half, the Dane was able to threaten again, but his free kick from distance ended up over and wide of the goal. The final chord was for Vanaken who was able to kick a dropped ball in the sixteen towards goal. Unfortunately he could not keep his effort low enough and so we rested with a deserved 0-1 lead for Blauw-Zwart....
The second half started with one substitution on both sides: Cimignani came on for Lugano and for Club, Jutglà was allowed to start the second half at the expense of Thiago. The first danger came again from the Bruges players, but captain Vanaken couldn't capitalize on Jutglà's deflection with his left. A few minutes later, Blauw-Zwart could celebrate, as Skov Olsen doubled the lead! In his typical manner, he came inside and then popped the leather with his left hard into the short corner against the nets. With this extra goal margin Blauw-Zwart seemed to be on a roll, but they had to watch out for Lugano's counterpricks. Celar first headed just wide of the post and shortly afterwards Mignolet had to show his skills on a shot by Cimignani. On the hour, Club got away very well when Bislimi was able to head in from a Steffen cross. Fortunately, the post saved the goal. Consequently, coach Deila thought it was time to make a triple substitution: De Cuyper, Onyedika and Nusa made their appearance.
After the many substitutions, both teams had to reorganize a bit, but it was the Swiss who were dangerous again around minute 70. Vladi popped up at the first post and was free to head in, but fortunately his header lacked any direction. A counter goal was in the air and it came. The first attempt was well saved by Mignolet in the near corner, but Vladi's rebound was without chance. Five minutes later Lugano had just the chance to equalize when ref Haţegan pointed to the spot. Fortunately, he was whistled back by VAR, who correctly saw that Mechele tapped the ball away first. Blauw-Zwart struggled in this phase and had to survive. Gradually, however, they managed to regain some balance and from that followed an opportunity for Jutglà. He targeted the short corner with his kick and goalkeeper Saipi had some trouble with his attempt.
A few minutes before the end of regular playing time, captain Vanaken brought redemption! Mechele lobbed the ball towards the small rectangle and there Vanaken timed it perfectly to head the 1-3 into the net. The Bruges victory was never in danger and Blauw-Zwart took the lead in their group!
UEFA Europa Conference League - Playday 3
Spectators: 30.930 - Letzigrund
Referee: Ovidiu Haţegan (ROE)
FC Lugano: Amir Saipi - Jhon Espinoza (60' Martim Marques), Lukas Mai, Kreshnik Hajrizi, Allan Arigoni - Uran Bislimi (78' Roman Macek), Anto Grgic (60' Mohamed Mahmoud), Jonathan Sabbatini (68' Shkelqim Vladi) - Renato Steffen, Zan Celar, Mattia Bottani (46' Yanis Cimignani).
Bench: Steven Deana, Diego Emerson Mina, Albian Hajdari, Roman Macek, Shkelqim Vladi, Yanis Cimignani, Ayman El Wafi, Martim Marques, Boris Babic, Mohamed Mahmoud.
Coach: Mattia Croci-Torti.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Tajon Buchanan, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer (63' Maxim De Cuyper) - Éder Balanta (63' Raphael Onyedika), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (63' Antonio Nusa), Igor Thiago (46' Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (78' Joel Ordóñez).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Joel Ordóñez, Denis Odoi, Michał Skóraś, Ferran Jutglà, Hugo Vetlesen, Raphael Onyedika, Antonio Nusa, Maxim De Cuyper.
Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Thiago, Steffen, Vanaken, Hajrizi, Vladi, Jutglà
Red cards: none
Goals: 15' Balanta (0-1), 50' Skov Olsen (0-2), 74' Vladi (1-2), 87' Vanaken (1-3)