Club Brugge lost the topper at Antwerp's field 2-1. Maxim De Cuyper put Blauw-Zwart ahead shortly after halftime, but in the absolute final minutes of the game Club swallowed two goals from Corbanie and Ondrejka.
Ronny Deila opted for the same eleven as on Tuesday against KV Kortrijk. Club grabbed the home team by the throat from the opening minute, and that quickly resulted in some good chances. A deviated shot by Skov Olsen went a meter wide after five minutes, but immediately after that it was 0-1. Meijer headed a corner kick toward the goalmouth, but Janssen was just able to clear it on the line. Moments later, a good interception by Thiago yielded nothing, as the Brazilian just failed to serve Zinckernagel.
At the other end, the Bruges defense was able to clear a cross towards Ilenikhena in time. Club responded with a dangerous cross from Nielsen, which Zinckernagel just failed to capitalize on. The match was mainly characterized by a lot of intensity, but few clear-cut chances. Ekkelenkamp was able to intercept a cross from Skov Olsen, while a hard shot by Alderweireld went wide via Vanaken.
In the closing stages of the first half, Blauw-Zwart threatened again via a corner kick. Doumbia deflected the ball towards his own goal, but Janssen was able to kick it away just before Vetlesen. A shot by Janssen then went over goal, while a hard shot by Thiago ended up in the side-netting. The best chance for Antwerp came just before half-time: Ilenikhena was able to shake off Spileers at the halfway line, stormed towards goal, but kicked the ball over the crossbar.
After the break, Balanta replaced Vetlesen. Just like in the first half, Club immediately went in search of a goal. After just over a minute of play, an excellent chance followed when Meijer headed a corner kick from De Cuyper half a meter over the crossbar. After ten minutes, Blauw-Zwart got their reward. After a cross from Nielsen, Butez parried a shot from Skov Olsen, but Maxim De Cuyper followed well and was able to push in the rebound at the far post.
Club remained in control after that as well, and even almost got a second goal as a gift, when a back-pass by Wijndal went just short of his own goal. Right after that Meijer was able to threaten again on a corner kick by De Cuyper, but the leather was cleared. Twenty minutes before time, Zinckernagel was injured. Boyata came on to replace him, leaving Club to play with three central defenders to cushion the Antwerp final offensive. Yet it was the Bruges players who remained the most dangerous: a hard shot by Vanaken went over goal and a shot by Nielsen went high over.
Blauw-Zwart seemed to be on their way to an important three points, but the devil was in the tail. Five minutes before time, substitute Kobe Corbanie lashed out with a Sunday shot that flew into goal from long range. Club tried to respond, but a volley from Nielsen was blocked. Deep into injury time, Maxim De Cuyper went down with a serious injury, and to make matters worse, Club made it 2-1 in the 99th minute, when Jacob Odrejka took a free kick. In the tumult after the game, Hans Vanaken was red carded for protesting against referee Vergoote.
Jupiler Pro League - Day 24
Spectators: 16,000 - Bosuilstadion
Referee: Jasper Vergoote
Royal Antwerp FC: Jean Butez - Jelle Bataille (78' Jacob Ondrejka), Zeno Van den Bosch, Toby Alderweireld, Owen Wijndal - Mahamadou Doumbia (85' Kobe Corbanie), Vincent Janssen, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp - Chidera Ejuke (85' Victor Udoh), George Ilenikhena, Gyrano Kerk (46' Arbnor Muja). Coach: Mark van Bommel
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Maxim De Cuyper (97' Denis Odoi), Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Hugo Vetlesen (46' Éder Balanta), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (88' Ferran Jutglà), Igor Thiago, Philip Zinckernagel (72' Dedryck Boyata). Bench: Joe Bursik, Nordin Jackers, Kyriani Sabbe, Michał Skóraś and Victor Barbera. Coach: Ronny Deila.
Yellow cards: Janssen, Vetlesen, Skóraś, Thiago, Boyata, Muja.
Red cards: Vanaken.
Goals: 54' De Cuyper (0-1), 86' Corbanie (1-1), 99' Ondrejka (2-1).
