Club Brugge failed to start the new season with a prize. The national champion went down 1-2 at home against cup winners Union. The people from Brussels led 0-2 through Puertas and Leysen. Newcomer Tzolis managed to counter ten minutes before time, but despite a final offensive the deserved equalizer did not materialize.
Just under two months after the title celebration, Club Brugge immediately faced a serious test for the new soccer season against Union. Nicky Hayen brought four debutants to the starting line-up: Argentine acquisition Zaid Romero played at the back in the center of the pitch alongside Brandon Mechele. Since De Cuyper only just resumed training and Meijer and Sabbe are injured, two young flank defenders appeared at the start: Amine Et-Taïbi started on the right, while Joaquin Seys took care of the left flank. Christos Tzolis was also allowed to make his debut. The Greek was joined up front by Jutglà and Nusa, while Nielsen, Vetlesen and Vanaken populated the midfield. Gustaf Nilsson started on the bench against his former team.
The first danger of the match came from the visitors. Eckert Ayensa was sent deep after seven minutes, but Romero was just able to push the ball into a corner. At the other end, Moris was able to clear the ball for the onrushing Jutglà. Moments later, another chance followed for both teams: Mechele was still able to clear a cross from the right before the goal line, while Moris easily caught a header from Vanaken. The best chance followed after twenty minutes. Nielsen took a cleared cross from Tzolis on the slipper in one time, but Moris had a fine reflex.
With the exception of a shot by Jutglà, there were no more chances after that. Until five minutes before halftime, when the visitors were suddenly awarded a penalty. Kabangu sprinted into the sixteen meters and got down when he felt Romero breathing down his neck. Referee Van Driessche pointed to the spot and was not whistled back by VAR. Mignolet chose the right corner, but Puertas' penalty disappeared into goal via the goalkeeper's body. Blue-Black tried to respond before halftime, but a header by Jutglà went wide.
Zaid Romero - who had caught a yellow card early on - remained in the locker room at halftime and was replaced by Jorne Spileers. Club wanted to look for the equalizer, but immediately suffered a firm blow. Mignolet parried a free kick from Puertas, but could not prevent Fedde Leysen from tapping in the 0-2 from close range. Nicky Hayen intervened immediately and brought Nielsen and Vetlesen to the side. Onyedika and the debutant Gustaf Nilsson took their place.
The Bridge players were now pushing forward in full force, which obviously left room for Union to counter. For example, Kabangu was unable to capitalize on a Puertas cross. Club then began to develop plenty of pressure: Tzolis went down in the 16 meters, but did not get a penalty for it as Vanhoutte tackled the ball into corner. Right after that, the Greek cleverly hoodwinked his defender, but his shot was saved by Moris. The goalkeeper then also grabbed a shot from Nilsson. At the other end, Mignolet had to stop Kabangu twice.
Ten minutes before time, Vermant and Talbi came on and immediately crafted the tying goal. Vermant launched Talbi, who in turn found Tzolis in the box. The Greek kicked the leather deliciously in with the outside right. Club continued to bombard the Union goal, but failed to equalize. Deep into injury time, however, Tzolis came close twice. Moris dived his header out of the cross and parried the Greek's rebound. So no Super Cup win for Club, but with the strong performances of Seys and Tzolis, among others, there were several bright spots.
Pro League Supercup
Spectators: 18,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Amine Et-Taïbi (79' Chemsdine Talbi), Brandon Mechele, Zaid Romero (46' Jorne Spileers), Joaquin Seys - Casper Nielsen (56' Raphael Onyedika), Hugo Vetlesen (56' Gustaf Nilsson), Hans Vanaken - Antonio Nusa, Ferran Jutglà (79' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis. Bank: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte, Dedryck Boyata, Philip Zinckernagel and Siebe Wylin. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Union Saint-Gilloise: Anthony Moris - Kevin MacAllister, Koki Machida, Fedde Leysen - Alessio Castro-Montes, Charles Vanhoutte, Noah Sadiki (68' Mathias Rasmussen), Cameron Puertas (79' Amani Lazare), Henok Teklab (79' Casper Terho) - Elton Kabangu (90' Anane Khalaili), Dennis Eckert Ayensa (68' Promise David). Coach: Sébastien Pocognoli.
Yellow cards: Romero, Leysen, Vanhoutte, Sadiki, Moris, Terho.
Red cards: none
Goals: 40' Puertas (penalty, 0-1), 47' Leysen (0-2), 79' Tzolis (1-2).
