Club loses 6-1 at AA Gent

Club Brugge suffered a heavy 6-1 defeat at AA Gent. Blauw-Zwart was already facing a 2-0 deficit after 15 minutes against a very efficient home team. Just before and shortly after halftime, Gent scored again. Hans Vanaken was able to score a second later, but Club had to empty the cup to the bottom.

The team that beat Beerschot last week underwent three changes. Noah Mbamba replaced the suspended Stanley Nsoki at center back, while Ignace Van der Brempt and Eduard Sobol - back from suspension - also appeared at the start. Van der Brempt played as a right central defender, leaving Mata to take care of the right flank in place of Tibo Persyn. Sobol replaced Federico Ricca on the left.

By qualifying for the group stage of the Conference League, AA Gent had gained confidence Thursday. Moreover, the Buffaloes immediately climbed into the lead at the first opportunity. Nurio was sent deep on the left on the edge of offside and his cross was kicked in by Tissoudali. After only 15 minutes it was already 2-0. Mechele tried to block Nurio, but slipped the Angolan with his supporting leg. Referee Lambrechts pointed to the spot and Julien De Sart kicked the penalty mercilessly in.

Blauw-Zwart thus faced a very tough assignment. The Bruges players tried to get back into the game, but had a hard time creating chances. De Ketelaere couldn't reach a teammate with a free kick, while Sobol also just couldn't finish. Buffalo, meanwhile, lurked on the counter. Mignolet first saved Odjidja's shot, but had to give way a third time later. Mata kicked the ball against Van der Brempt, which ended up in the path of Nurio Fortuna, who stepped up to make it 3-0.

Club got no further than a header from Vanaken on the stroke of halftime and so Philippe Clement intervened. Noah Mbamba remained in the dressing room and was replaced by Bas Dost. The Bridge side switched to a 4-3-3 and tried to fight their way back into the game. The first danger after the break, however, came again from AA Gent, but Tissoudali kicked the ball wide. At the other end, an effort by Noa Lang went over goal.

The Buffaloes had plenty of room to counter and made good use of it. Roman Bezus dribbled into the box and shot the 4-0 cross. Club was then able to react: after a corner kick by De Ketelaere, Hans Vanaken kicked the ball past Bolat with a fine volley. However, the small glimmer of hope was immediately dashed again. Tissoudali reached the back line and shot Depoitre the 5-1.

In the closing stages, Bolat caught a shot from Vormer. Club, however, had to empty the chalice to the bottom: a back pass from Mechele bumped unhappily into their own goal via Mignolet's foot, making it 6-1. Bas Dost had the last chance of the match, but the Dutchman headed a Sobol cross over goal.

Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 6
Spectators: 16,000 - Ghelamco Arena
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
KAA Gent: Sinan Bolat - Andreas Hanche-Olsen, Michael Ngadeu, Joseph Okumu - Alessio Castro-Montes (84' Matisse Samoise), Julien De Sart, Vadis Odjidja (49' Roman Bezus), Sven Kums (70' Adewale Oladoye), Nurio Fortuna - Laurent Depoitre (70' Yonas Malede), Tarik Tissoudali (84' Giorgi Chakvetadze). Coach: Hein Vanhaezebrouck.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Ignace Van der Brempt, Brandon Mechele, Noah Mbamba (46' Bas Dost) - Clinton Mata, Ruud Vormer, Éder Balanta, Hans Vanaken, Eduard Sobol - Charles De Ketelaere, Noa Lang. Bench: Senne Lammens, Nick Shinton, Owen Otasowie, Matej Mitrović, Tibo Persyn, Federico Ricca, Mats Rits and Daniel Pérez. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Yellow cards: Kums, Lang, Odjidja, Mbamba.
Red cards: none
Goals: 9' Tissoudali (1-0), 15' De Sart (penalty, 2-0), 38' Nurio (3-0), 61' Bezus (4-0), 65' Vanaken (4-1), 66' Depoitre (5-1), 79' Mignolet (owngoal, 6-1).

Text: Steven Floin