A sad home defeat for Club Brugge as La Louvière pocked the three points by the very end of the game (2-3). The hosts took a 2-0 lead thanks to goals by Vermant and Vetlesen, but moments later, a very harsch red card for Ordóñez shook it all up. After the break, Club initially held up well, but after two goals in the closing stages went down after all.
Ivan Leko was forced to change his starting lineup in one position as Carlos Forbs dropped out with a minor injury and was replaced by Mamadou Diakhon. The young Frenchman took charge of left wing, while Vetlesen moved to the right. As a result, Tzolis played as an attacking midfielder in support of deep striker Vermant. Nordin Jackers returned from injury but took a seat on the bench, Dani van den Heuvel retaining his place under the cross bar.
The Bruges players immediately tried to put high pressure, but it was the visitors who could threaten first as Ito saw his shot go wide. At the other end, Vetlesen just missed a cross from Stanković. The hosts found their way into the game, but saw goalkeeper Van den Heuvel drop out after twenty minutes, calling for Jackers to make his comeback sooner than expected. The goalkeeper had barely been on the pitch when he saw Club open the scoring: Diakhon picked out a nice action on the left and his low cross was tapped in by Vermant. That goal gave Club wings, because moments later it was already 2-0, Vetlesen taking a Tzolis' corner kick in one go.
Soon after, the match seemed to be in a final fold, but goalkeeper Peano first saved a header by Vanaken and then also parried Vermant's rebound. The hosts seemd well under control, but five minutes before halftime they were dealt a heavy blow. Ordóñez was pushed over by Afriyie, but in his fall pulled the attacker to the ground. The defender was initially given yellow, but after viewing the footage, Bourdeaud'hui drew red. A very harsh decision by the ref.
Leko caught the loss of Ordóñez by moving Stanković back a row. As a result, the Serbian played alongside Mechele as a central defender. At the stroke of halftime, two more chances came: a shot by Diakhon zoomed just wide, and on the opposite side, a shot by Lutonda flew against the post and then straight at Jackers.
After the break, the Bruges players tried to maintain good organization and try their luck on the break. For example, Vermant just couldn't reach a cross from Tzolis, while a shot from the Greek was saved by Peano. At the other end, Jackers had a very good reflex on a shot by Afriyie. Ten minutes after halftime, Tzolis looked to be on his way to making it 3-0, but Okou was just able to stop him. La Louvière responded with a hard shot from Maisonneuve that flew against the top of the crossbar.
Club seemed to have everything under control, but on the hour the hosts conceded the tying goal. Jackers pushed a Lutonda cross against Mechele, causing the ball to roll to the feet of Afriyie. He did not hesitate and kicked in the 2-1 from close range. Club kept everything closed, but ten minutes before time, Lahssaini managed to score the equalizer with a shot from outside the box.
The visitors were now out for blood and went in search of victory. A cross and header by Afriyie went wide and over, but the fatal goal fell: Pape Fall headed in the 2-3 from close range in the final minute of regular playing time. Club did everything in its power to equalize, but Stanković's shot went over the crossbar and Tresoldi's header went wide.
Jupiler Pro League - Match Day 21
Spectators: 24,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Simon Bourdeaud'hui
Club Brugge: Dani van den Heuvel (19' Nordin Jackers) - Kyriani Sabbe (65' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Christos Tzolis (65' Ludovit Reis) - Hugo Vetlesen, Romeo Vermant (72' Nicolò Tresoldi), Mamadou Diakhon (72' Bjorn Meijer).
Bench: Axl De Corte, Vince Osuji, Cisse Sandra, Shandre Campbell and Tian Nai Koren.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
La Louvière: Marcos Peano - Dario Benavides (46' Sami Lahssaini), Maxence Maisonneuve, Yllan Okou, Djibril Lamego, Jordi Liongola - Samuel Gueulette (66' Nolan Gillot), Thierry Lutonda, Joël Ito - Mohamed Guindo (46' Pape Fall), Jerry Afriyie.
Coach: Frédéric Taquin
Yellow: Ito, Afriyie.
Red: 39' Ordóñez.
Goals: 23' Vermant (1-0), 29' Vetlesen (2-0), 61' Afriyie (2-1), 81' Lahssaini (2-2), 89' Fall (2-3).