Club Brugge had to settle for a 1-1 draw at home against Sint-Truiden. Andreas Skov Olsen opened the score just after the break, but Koita equalised for the visitors with a quarter of the match left.
Ronny Deila made four changes to the team that had faced Genk on Thursday. In the back Dedryck Boyata and Denis Odoi came on for Spileers and the injured Sabbe. Higher up the pitch midfielder Casper Nielsen and forward Ferran Jutglà were given the nod. Vetlesen and Thiago were on the bench. Blauw-Zwart started in a 3-5-2 formation with Skov Olsen and De Cuyper on the wing and Zinckernagel partnered up with Jutglà up front. Due to the many changes, it were the visitors who started the game lively with Koita seeing his shot blocked and a header by Hashioka that Godeau just couldn't tap in.
After the opening stage Club took over the lead of the game. Vanaken just couldn't play Jutglà through on goal, Skov Olsen's shot first shot was blocked and a second was palmed away by Suzuki. The Japanese goalie also needed to tip away a looping header from Vanaken. At the other side Mignolet saved an effort from Ito and Koita fired into the side-netting.
The visitors had most of the ball, but it was Club that created the chances. Around the 20-minute mark Zinckernagel - from an offside position - slammed a ball via Suzuki against the post and then forced Suzuki into making a good diving save. One minute later he had to go down quickly again - this time on a low drive from Skov Olsen. STVV forward Kaya didn't go unnoticed either, but he fired his first attempt over the crossbar and later he tapped a cross wide. On the stroke of half-time Hashioka headed the ball over the target.
Deila made two changes at the break: Spileers and Balanta replaced Boyata and Onyedika. Club started in the more familiar 4-3-3 formation and it was a frantic start of the second half. Vanaken released De Cuyper on the left and his cross was put against the back of the net with a first-time touch by Skov Olsen. Club pushed through, but Odoi's shot was headed away and Zinckernagel's effort took a deflection on a defender.
On the hour mark Blauw-Zwart had a serie of chances to double the lead: Nielsen saw a shot blocked and a volley go over the target, while Vanaken's goal-bound attempt was cleared before the line by a defender. Jutglà tried his luck as well, but he couldn't steer the ball past the goalkeeper. Instead of scoring a second, it was Sint-Truiden that pulled level with their first effort on goal in the second half when Koita's low drive took a deflection on Odoi before it flew into the far low corner.
Twenty minutes before the end Vetlesen and Thiago came on, but despite all the attacking-minded players on the pitch and the right intentions, it was hard for Club to create a good chance until stoppage time when De Cuyper saw a shot blocked and Zinckernagel's attempt flew over the crossbar.
No more goals were scored, so this was a fourth consecutive 1-1 draw for Blauw-Zwart across all competitions.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 9
Attendance: 26.000 – Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Nicolas Laforge
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele (86’ Michał Skóraś), Dedryck Boyata (46’ Jorne Spileers) – Andreas Skov Olsen, Casper Nielsen (71’ Hugo Vetlesen), Raphael Onyedika (46’ Éder Balanta), Hans Vanaken, Maxim De Cuyper – Ferran Jutglà (71’ Igor Thiago), Philip Zinckernagel. Bench: Nordin Jackers en Joel Ordóñez. Coach: Ronny Deila.
Sint-Truiden VV: Zion Suzuki – Rein Van Helden, Matte Smets, Bruno Godeau (84’ Wolke Janssens) – Daiki Hashioka (79’ Frederic Ananou), Ryotaro Ito (79’ Joel Fujita), Mathias Delorge-Knieper, Jarne Steuckers (70’ Rihito Yamamoto), Eric Bocat – Fatih Kaya, Aboubakary Koita. Coach: Thorsten Fink
Yellow cards: Onyedika, Jutglà, Balanta, Hashioka.
Red cards: none
Goals: 47’ Skov Olsen (1-0), 66’ Koita (1-1).
