Club continues in cup after 6-1 win against Olsa Brakel

Club Brugge kicked off its cup adventure with a big 6-1 victory against Olsa Brakel. Youssouph Badji scored a hat trick, while Vanaken and debutant Chong also hit the mark. The sixth Bruges goal came after an own goal by Nelis. Club takes on Antwerp next week in the 1/8th final.

Philippe Clement rested several star players against the Second National team. Compared to Sunday's match against Standard, only Sobol, Vanaken and Okereke kept their starting places. Okereke was joined up front by Badji and debutant Tahith Chong, while Balanta and Van den Keybus together with Vanaken occupied midfield. At the back, Sobol played alongside Denswil, the reappearing Mitrović and Van der Brempt. Ethan Horvath defended the goal.

Blauw-Zwart started excellently and took the lead after barely a minute and a half of play: after a clever action by Chong on the left, Vanaken was able to score in two times. After that, Van den Keybus made himself noticed twice, but it was the visitors who were able to score. Horvath had to clear a ball just outside the penalty area with his head and Kevin Haezebroeck was able to take advantage of that by kicking in the 1-1 with a lob. Moments later, a deviated shot by Deryck went only narrowly wide.

For Club, this was the signal to step up a gear. Otte first saved attempts by Chong and Okereke, but had to give in after twenty minutes: Badji headed a Sobol cross perfectly into the far corner. Then a header by Mitrović hit the side netting and a free kick by Vanaken whizzed just over the goal. The best chance was for the strong infiltrator Van den Keybus: the midfielder cut inside but his shot hit the crossbar. Just before half time Okereke failed to score twice, while goalkeeper Otte saved a free kick by Chong.

After the break, Bruges immediately went in search of a third goal. A shot by Badji whizzed over goal, but on the other side Horvath also had to be alert to attempts by Deryck and Cordie. Brakel briefly hoped for more, but was soon silenced: after a corner kick by Chong, Nelis deviated the ball into his own goal. Moments later, a hard shot by Chong went just wide, while attempts by Okereke and again Chong were also unsuccessful.

The final decision came on the hour: after a cross from Van den Keybus, Badji first hit the bar, but the Senegalese was able to head the rebound in himself. Immediately afterwards, Nabil Dirar also made his debut and witnessed the other debutant score: Mitrović served Tahith Chong and he was able to score the 5-1 with a clever jab. Immediately afterwards, a header by Denswil also hit the post.

Fifteen minutes before time, Youssouph Badji was able to complete his hat-trick. Mats Rits found the striker in the sixteen meters and he scored 6-1. In the closing stages there were chances for De Cuyper, Rits, Okereke and Badji, but there were no more goals. Club scored a big victory and qualified for the 1/8th final of the Croky Cup. Blauw-Zwart will play Antwerp next week.

Croky Cup - 1/16th final
Spectators: none - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Arthur Denil
Club Brugge: Ethan Horvath- Ignace Van der Brempt (63' Nabil Dirar), Matej Mitrović, Stefano Denswil, Eduard Sobol (72' Brandon Mechele) - Thomas Van den Keybus, Éder Balanta, Hans Vanaken (63' Mats Rits) - David Okereke, Youssouph Badji, Tahith Chong (72' Maxim De Cuyper). Bench: Nick Shinton, Senne Lammens, Noa Lang and Bas Dost. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Olsa Brakel: Jasper Otte - Sebastiaan Cordie, Louis Desmet (46' Domien Schelstraete), Ludovic Buysens - Pierre Lambrecht, Kenneth Pauwels (71' Malcolm Appiah), Kevin Haezebroeck (85' Bram Van Eerstvelde), Ben Bogaert, Jimmy Denis (85' Emilio Cocquyt) - Robin Nelis (60' Matisse D'Hondt), Menco Deryck. Coach: Stefano Nijst.
Yellow cards: Haezebroeck.
Red cards: none
Goals: 2' Vanaken (1-0), 9' Haezebroeck (1-1), 21' Badji (2-1), 52' Nelis (owngoal, 3-1), 59' Badji (4-1), 68' Chong (5-1), 74' Badji (6-1).

Text: Steven Floin