Two new names on Clement's tactical board compared to the team that lost against Antwerp a fortnight ago. Noa Lang, suspended and injured, was replaced by Tahith Chong. The Dutchman was paired with countryman Bas Dost and Charles De Ketelaere in the three-man attack. Eduard Sobol was favoured over Stefano Denwil as left full-back.
Club started the game ferociously and immediately had a couple of corner kicks. But the hosts turned the tide quickly and even became the more dangerous side. Mignolet was forced into making a great save by Selemani and he was supported by Mata who cleared a ball on the line. Kossounou had to clear a ball on the line as well, but Timothy Derijck smashed home on the rebound. His goal, however, was ruled out after a VAR intervention because of an offside position.
It should have been a wake-up call for the blue and black, but Kortrijk took the lead nonetheless after twenty minutes play. Mechele lost the ball to Gueye in midfield, who played Gano trough on goal and the Genk loanee fired the ball past Mignolet. But the lead didn't last long. Two minutes later Vormer's corner kick was headed away into the patch of Sobol who volleyed home from twenty meters out.
After the equaliser both teams kept creating chances in an entertaining first half. Vormer cleared a header by Gano and on the other side of the pitch the captain just couldn't get on the end of De Ketelaere's cross.
After the break Club created the first real chance. Marko Ilic mistimed a high ball, but the goalkeeper was quick enough to prevent a goal. For the home side Selemani arrowed a free-kick a meter wide off the target. Club had most of the ball, but Kortrijk were well-organized in the back. De Ketelare found Dost with a low cross, who then failed to feed the ball to Vanaken. Kortrijk tried to hurt Club on the break, but Kossounou defended well when De Waele whipped in a cross towards Gano.
Halfway the second half Daniel Pérez came on for De Ketelaere and he immediately carved out a first chance. The forward darted into the box, but Radovanovic and Ilic were just able to deny the Venezuelan.
Club upped the pressure on Kortrijk. Kossounou headed a ball just over the target and Rits' cross towards Dost was cleared by the home defence. Fifteen minutes before the end Sobol went down inside the area after a push by Derijck and referee Vergoote pointed to the spot. Hans Vanaken didn't hesitate and slotted home Club's second of the evening.
In the final minutes of the match Club had the best chances to put the game to bed. The unmarked Rits scuffed his finish wide and he was copied by substitute Badji.
It remained 1-2, thanks to Mignolet who needed a brilliant last-second save to deny De Sart. Thanks to this win, Club Brugge widens the gap with Antwerp to nineteen points. They face Antwerp on Monday.
Jupiler Pro League – Fixture 32
Attendance: none – Guldensporenstadion
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
KV Kortrijk: Marko Ilic – Gilles Dewaele, Timothy Derijck, Aleksandar Radovanovic, Petar Golubovic, Eric Ocansey (78’ Teddy Chevalier) – Pape Gueye (82’ Mohamed Badamosi), Julien De Sart, Sambou Sissoko (66’ Yevhen Makarenko), Faïz Selemani - Zinho Gano. Coach: Luka Elsner.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Clinton Mata, Odilon Kossounou, Brandon Mechele, Eduard Sobol – Ruud Vormer, Mats Rits, Hans Vanaken (78’ Éder Balanta) – Charles De Ketelaere (64’ Daniel Pérez), Bas Dost, Tahith Chong (78’ Youssouph Badji). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Nick Shinton, Nabil Dirar, Matej Mitrović, Federico Ricca, David Okereke en Stefano Denswil. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Yellow cards: Sissoko, Vormer, Ocansey, Selemani, Pérez, Golubovic.
Red cards: none
Goals: 19’ Gano (1-0), 21’ Sobol (1-1), 77’ Vanaken (penalty, 1-2).
Report - Steven Floin
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