The Dudenpark was the setting for the topper on the third match day in the Champions' playoff between leader Union SG and chasers Club Brugge. Blauw-Zwart struggled for a long time, but a penalty miss by Vanzeir proved to be the tipping point in the match. A mature Club Brugge was able to score twice via Vanaken and deep in the final Nusa, allowing Club to win 0-2 against Union and thus climb over the Brusselers to the head of the standings.
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Club Brugge flips over Union to first place!
Of a study round no question, the opening phase was immediately fierce. Union's intention in the match beginning was clear: To leave Club on the ball and wait for a breakout through the fast guys up front. In the first minute, that immediately resulted in a threat via a breakout Vanzeir, but Mechele was well followed.
Club's reaction did not let up. Even in the first five minutes, Blauw-Zwart was able to threaten after a hard shot by De Ketelaere. On the resumption, Odoi placed the ball over from the second line.
After ten pleasant minutes, it is Union that briefly presses the gas pedal. The Brusselers immediately went on the attack when the ball was recaptured, and an excellent Mignolet had to hold Club back a few times after a few Union chances. Halfway through the first half, Club regained the balance. With a little more midfield play, the Bruges triangle retains a little more ball possession in midfield. However, this does not lead to big chances for Moris' cage.
Schreuder's troops struggle to get anything done offensively. Union puts high pressure on Blauw-Zwart, giving them little time and space. Ten minutes before time, it is Noa Lang who takes initiative in the Bruges waves of attack. The Rotterdam native decides to play a tempo higher and pull forward faster, allowing Club to threaten once more in front of Moris' goal. After a quick and shortly taken corner kick, De Ketelaere shoots into the side netting from an acute angle. A few minutes before the end of the first half, Club had another great opportunity to take the lead. After a duel on the sideline, Noa Lang was able to steam through on the left flank, but due to good intervention by Machida, Lang just failed to put Admayan alone in front of goal. On the other side, Union also gets an opportunity in the meantime, but Undav's weak finish cannot embarrass Mignolet. A tough first half, in which Club often struggled in the attacking department, ended without a goal.
At the beginning of the second half, both coaches sent the same eleven names into the field, but it did not create the same proportions. Club Brugge kept the game more in balance. The first chance was therefore for the national champion, but a volley by Nsoki after a corner kick went wide. Union's reaction came quickly, as less than two minutes later Vanzeir crossed to Undav. However, the German cannot decide and kicks wide.
After ten minutes in the second half, the ball goes on the dot. After a slight intervention by Mechele on a breakaway Lazare, Vanzeir had the chance to put the Brusselers ahead from eleven meters. However, the striker placed the ball wide of the goal, and Mignolet also chose the right side.
The missed penalty proved to be a turning point in the match. Club straightened up and immediately went on the attack. The difference between the two teams remains minimal. On the hour, Schreuder intervened. First he brought Sobol between the lines, then Skov Olsen was given 20 minutes to turn the tide. And the substitutions pay off immediately, as three minutes after Skov Olsen's substitution he serves Vanaken with a fine cross, and he heads the ball hard in. Club in the lead with 15 minutes to play.
In the closing stages of the match, Club seems to have found a second breath with Vanaken's opening goal. The guys up front at Club keep the ball more, and an attacking Union has more and more spaces in the back of their defense.
Club also tries to exploit that space at times, but both Lang and Skov Olsen are unable to capitalize on the opportunities. In the absolute final minute, Club hits the target. A quick counter via Skov Olsen puts Nusa alone in front of goal. The Norwegian kicks in the 0-2 and the final score with ease.
Club wins 0-2 against title rival Union after a mature and strong second half. With three match days to go, Blauw-Zwart takes the lead over Union. On Wednesday, Union visits Jan Breydel.
Champions' playoffs - Game Day 3
Spectators: 9,000
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Union SG: Anthony Moris - Bart Nieuwkoop (70' Guillaume François), Jonas Bager (19' Kacper Kozlowski), Christian Burgess, Koki Machida, Loïc Lapoussin - Teddy Teuma, Lazare Amani (70' Kaoru Mitoma), Casper Nielsen - Deniz Undav, Danté Vanzeir (90' Ismaël Kandouss).
Bank: Lucas Pirard, Guillaume François, Siebe Van der Heyden, Ismaël Kandouss, Damien Marq, Ilyes Ziani, Kaoru Mitoma, Alex Millán.
Coach: Felice Mazzù.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Brandon Mechele, Stanley Nsoki - Tajon Buchanan, Éder Balanta, Denis Odoi (59' Eduard Sobol), Hans Vanaken, Charles De Ketelaere - Sargis Adamyan (71' Andreas Skov Olsen), Noa Lang (87' Antonio Nusa).
Bank: Senne Lammens, Jack Hendry, Eduard Sobol, Ruud Vormer, Andreas Skov Olsen, Antonio Nusa, Bas Dost.
Coach: Alfred Schreuder.
Yellow cards: Mata, Nsoki, Odoi, Sobol, Teuma, Undav, Mitoma
Red Cards: None
Goals: Hans Vanaken (74') and Antonio Nusa (99').
Text: Brian Dewulf