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Standard sends Club into despair (1-2)

Jupiler Pro League

A blow for Club Brugge as it fell to Standard de Liège 1-2. The second half started great with a Ferran Jutglà header opening the score, but as Tzolis was sent off, the game was overhauled with Zeqiri and Eckert reversing the score to make it a frustrating 1-2.

Opting for the same eleven that had beaten Atalanta on Tuesday, Nicky Hayen hoped to circumvent the double wall lined up by Standard, trying to find that one hole to squeeze through. A first chance came ten minutes in, after some fine combining between Vanaken and Jutglà put Talbi through, but his hard shot was turned into corner kick. A bit later, goalkeeper Bazunu came just in time to stretch and tap away that same Talbi's deflected shot.

Coach Ivan Leko's team tactics clearly involved running a tight ship, luring for the break whenever they could. Halfway through the first half, a hard cross was headed wide by Zeqiri, and a bit later that same Zeqiri came inches close of reaching a Lazare cross slash shot. With Onyedika coming off injured, Nielsen was given the nod, and the midfielder came close to opening the score with a blast from a distance, shattering the crossbar. Two more chances followed as Jashari's attempt ended up on the roof of the goal, and a Tzolis volley whizzed over.

Club tried lifting the pace in the second half, which resulted in an early threat through Jutglà, but he was unable to frame his attempt. Five minutes later, however, Jan Breydel let out a sigh of relief as De Cuyper produced an excellent cross to find Jutglà by the far post, heading in the opener. Club's joy was shortlived, however, as ten minutes into the second half the hosts were down to ten after a second yellow for Tzolis, fouling Fossey.

The visitors now started creeping forward, and after Zeqiri first saw his shot blocked, he managed to make it 1-1. A cross from the left met up with the hand of Ordóñez, and after having viewed the footage, ref Visser pointed toward the spot. A through blow for Club, and it took a fine Mignolet to deny Bolingoli, just on, from making it 1-2.

Despite the man down, Club tried to salvage that win. Nielsen with the cross to Jutglà, getting a touch to it to try and beat Bazunu but the latter somehow managed to keep it out. With ten minutes to go, Jutglà seemed launched, but again the Luik goalie sprung to its team's aide, beating the Spaniard to the ball. Instead of 2-1, the goal fell on the other side of the pitch as Eckert Ayensa tapped in a fine Fossey cross from close range. A shock Club could not overcome, even if two more scoring opportunites came into injury time, as Bazunu saved a Skóraś attempt, and Vermant also saw his header go awry.

Jupiler Pro League – Match Day 27
Audience:
28,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref:
Lawrence Visser
Club Brugge:
Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys (89’ Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (23’ Casper Nielsen), Ardon Jashari (89’ Michał Skóraś), Hans Vanaken - Chemsdine Talbi (59’ Gustaf Nilsson), Ferran Jutglà (89’ Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis. Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen and Kyriani Sabbe.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Standard: Gavin Bazunu – Marlon Fossey, Ibe Hautekiet, Attila Szalai (59’ Boli Bolingoli), Henry Lawrence, Ilay Camara – Léandre Kuavita (59’ Dennis Eckert Ayensa), Sotiris Alexandropoulos (79’ Ibrahim Karamoko), Aiden O'Neill, Lazare Amani (88’ Souleyman Doumbia) – Andy Zeqiri (79’ Andreas Hountondji).
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Yellow: Vanaken, Sotiris, Tzolis, Hautekiet, Lazare.
Red: 55’ Tzolis (2x yellow).
Goals: 51’ Jutglà (1-0), 67’ Zeqiri (penalty, 1-1), 85’ Eckert Ayensa (1-2).