Club Brugge easily qualified for the 1/8th finals of the Croky Cup after a 6-1 win against Belisia Bilzen. Blauw-Zwart was leading 3-1 at halftime after goals from Jutglà (2) and Romero. After the break, Nilsson, Meijer and Skóraś took care of the 6-1 final score.
Against the team from First National, Nicky Hayen made eight changes to the team that beat Anderlecht on Sunday. Nordin Jackers was allowed to start for the first time this season. The Limburg goalkeeper was joined by Sabbe, Spileers, Romero and Siquet. In midfield, Onyedika and Vanaken were joined by Nielsen, while up front Skóraś and Jutglà Skov joined Olsen.
Belisia Bilzen eliminated second-ranked Lommel in the previous round and hoped for a stunt this time as well. It started very eagerly, as Jackers had to defuse a cross after only thirty seconds. Club was immediately shaken up and resolutely took control of the game. A shot by Nielsen and a header by Romero first went over goal, but after fifteen minutes Ferran Jutglà unleashed his devils. First the Catalan headed in a cross from Nielsen and immediately after that he was able to go through alone to make it 2-0.
The Bruggelings immediately had a comfortable lead, but continued to push even after that. A goal by Nielsen was first disallowed because Sabbe's cross crossed the goal line, but halfway through the first half it was 3-0 when Zaid Romero scored from close range. A shot by Nielsen then went wide and a clever attempt by Vanaken behind the supporting leg was blocked. Instead of 4-0, however, it became 3-1. Sam Valcke took a long pass with his chest and kicked the ball into the far corner. That 3-1 was also the score at halftime because a header by Spileers and a shot by Jutglà did not result in a goal.
The second half started with a blocked shot by Sabbe, an attempt by Nielsen over the goal and a goal by Skov Olsen that was disallowed for offside. At the other end, Maus also could not frame his shot, while Jackers had to parry a header by Vandecaetsbeek. Davino Verhulst also had to show his ability on a shot by Skov Olsen.
On the hour, Nicky Hayen made a triple substitution: in addition to Jashari and Nilsson, Bjorn Meijer could also celebrate his return after months of absence. And those substitutions produced immediate results. A cross from Siquet to Nilsson was first cleared, but immediately afterwards it was a winner. Skóraś launched Meijer on the left and his cross was kicked in by Nilsson. A few minutes later it was even 5-1, when Meijer headed a deep pass from Jashari over Verhulst into goal.
In the closing stages, a shot by Romero was blocked, a free kick by Siquet splashed onto the crossbar and Meijer failed to capitalize on an excellent pass from Jashari. Moments later Verhulst had an excellent reflex on a Nilsson cross. The final chord was finally for Michał Skóraś. After a fine attack Meijer played the ball back to the Pole, who scored the 6-1 from close range. Club Brugge thus easily qualified for the 1/8th finals of the Croky Cup.
Croky Cup - 1/16th finals
Spectators: 14.000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Hannes De Couvreur
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (60' Bjorn Meijer), Jorne Spileers, Zaid Romero, Hugo Siquet - Casper Nielsen, Raphael Onyedika (60' Ardon Jashari), Hans Vanaken (73' Romeo Vermant) - Andreas Skov Olsen (73' Chemsdine Talbi), Ferran Jutglà (60' Gustaf Nilsson), Michał Skóraś. Bank: Dani van den Heuvel, Axl De Corte and Brandon Mechele. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Belisia Bilzen SV: Davino Verhulst - Siebren Lathouwers (86' Jasper Coolen), Falke Vandecaetsbeek, Etienne Aka, Matthiece Nelissen - Sam Valcke (73' Frederik Spruyt), Lucas Chantrain, Jordi Maus, Tiemen Wijnen - Bernd Stassen (73' Denis Bunchukov), Sonny Baik. Coach: Mirko Licata.
Yellow cards: Valcke, Chantrain, Coolen.
Red cards: none
Goals: 15' Jutglà (1-0), 17' Jutglà (2-0), 24' Romero (3-0), 36' Valcke (3-1), 64' Nilsson (4-1), 67' Meijer (5-1), 87' Skóraś (6-1).