Club Brugge won its first home game of 2024 smoothly 3-0 over Westerlo. Igor Thiago opened the score shortly before halftime and doubled the Brugge lead after just over an hour of play. In the closing stages, Antonio Nusa provided the final decision.
Ronny Deila changed the team that won at AA Gent on Tuesday in one place: Philip Zinckernagel replaced Antonio Nusa at left forward. The Brugge players wanted to make a difference early on and immediately grabbed the visitors by the throat: a shot by Thiago was blocked, a cross from Meijer disappeared just behind Thiago and a distance shot by Vetlesen whizzed wide.
The first really big chance followed after more than fifteen minutes: after a good interception by Thiago and Zinckernagel, the Dane could serve his compatriot Skov Olsen on the right, but he first tried to look for his left and let a beckoning opportunity go to waste. A few minutes later Club came even closer to the opening goal: Nielsen painted the ball in front of goal and there Thiago headed the cross against the post. Shortly after, Bolat also had to save on a shot by De Cuyper.
Shortly before the half hour mark, Rik De Mil's team was also dangerous on two occasions: first De Cuyper was just able to clear a low cross from Reynolds and immediately afterwards Madsen curled the ball just wide. Blauw-Zwart was warned, but immediately had an appropriate reaction: Zinckernagel was able to push through on the right and served Igor Thiago, who was able to slide in the 1-0 from close range. Shortly before halftime, a high cross from Meijer was just headed away by Rommens.
After the break, Club controlled the game, while Westerlo seemed unable to put the Brugge players in trouble. It was therefore a while of waiting for concrete goal danger. Shortly before the hour, Blauw-Zwart did come close to scoring 2-0: after a scrimmage in front of goal, first Zinckernagel and Skov Olsen and then Thiago and Vanaken just failed to score. Moments later, Bolat saved a shot by De Cuyper and a header by Thiago.
The deserved 2-0 finally fell after twenty minutes in the second half. Daci committed handplay in the sixteen meters and so referee Laforge pointed to the spot. Igor Thiago saw his penalty kick parried by Bolat, but the ball still capered in goal, allowing the Brazilian to score his second goal of the evening. Ten minutes before time, Club decided the game definitively: Hans Vanaken spooned the ball over goalkeeper Bolat and Antonio Nusa tapped the ball just over the goal line, giving the Norwegian the goal to his name.
Five minutes before time, two substitutes seemed to score the 4-0 when Ferran Jutglà cashed in a cross from Michał Skóraś, but the goal was disallowed for offside. In injury time, Arthur Piedfort picked up his second yellow, leaving Westerlo with ten players. Bolat then had to save a header by Jutglà and a shot by Skóraś, but the 3-0 remained on the board. Since Genk stuck at a draw against Cercle, Club Brugge jumps to fourth place in the standings over the Limburgers.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 21
Spectators: 24,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Maxim De Cuyper (83' Kyriani Sabbe), Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Hugo Vetlesen, Casper Nielsen (75' Éder Balanta), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (83' Michał Skóraś), Igor Thiago (83' Ferran Jutglà), Philip Zinckernagel (75' Antonio Nusa). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Victor Barbera and Dedryck Boyata. Coach: Ronny Deila.
KVC Westerlo: Sinan Bolat - Bryan Reynolds, Roman Neustädter, Emin Bayram, Tuur Rommens (72' Ravil Tagir) - Griffin Yow (72' Mathias Fixelles), Sergiy Sydorchuk, Arthur Piedfort, Nicolas Madsen, Thomas Van den Keybus - Erdon Daci (72' Nacer Chadli). Coach: Rik De Mil
Yellow cards: Van den Keybus, Bolat.
Red cards: 91' Piedfort (2x yellow).
Goals: 37' Thiago (1-0), 65' Thiago (penalty, 2-0), 80' Nusa (3-0).
