After the draw against Westerlo, coach De Mil wanted to confirm with a strong performance at the Soeverein Stadium against Lommel. Engels and Fuakala moved to the bench due to the return of Van den Keybus and Mbamba. It was a strong performance by Club NXT with unfortunately a narrow defeat as a result.
Club NXT started the match well organized and kept the home team far from goalkeeper Shinton. Lommel found no answer and struggled to stay in possession of the ball. Blue Black, on the other hand, combined very smoothly. Striker Vermant came close to a goal several times, but goalkeeper Grimshaw played a strong first half and parried chance after chance. Shinton experienced a quiet first half until he had to make a witty save just before halftime. The first half was one of Club NXT's best this season, but unfortunately they were not rewarded with a goal.
The second half Club NXT controlled and occasionally prodded in search of the 0-1. Mendy kicked a corner kick over goal, and Vermant couldn't finish either. Still, there was a scare when Lommel kicked the ball just wide of the left post on a counter attack. Club NXT got what it deserved afterwards. Servais saw the goalkeeper standing far from his goal and from the right flank controlled the ball into the goal. Goalkeeper Grimshaw was too late - 0-1, a deserved lead.
Unfortunately as so often this season, luck was short-lived. Mbamba with a slight contact in the penalty area, but the referee considered it enough to give a penalty to the home team. Kis took the gift in thanks and goalkeeper Shinton just couldn't reach it. 1-1, and Lommel regained courage to bring our youngsters down after all. The game went back and forth. Blauw-Zwart missed two more chances with Servais and the unfortunate Vermant. The goal fell a good 10 minutes before time. Verschueren extended a free kick with his head past goalkeeper Shinton: 2-1. Afterwards the Bruges goalkeeper had to show his skills a couple of times to prevent the 3-1.
Coach Rik De Mil replaced a few tired players in the hope of getting a draw. Club NXT tried in the last minute, but they couldn't score. Thus, the match ended in a sour 2-1 defeat. Next Sunday night, Club NXT will be looking for its first three points of 2021 at home against Seraing!
Club Brugge: Shinton, Hautekiet, Mbamba, Mendy, De Roeve, De Cuyper, Fofana (84' Fuakala), Audoor (84' Vanrafelghem), Van den Keybus, Servais (85' Aelterman), Vermant.
Goals: 63' Servais 0-1, 65' Kis 1-1 (penalty), 77' Verschueren 2-1.