Club picks up smooth 0-3 win at the Kiel

Club Brugge recorded a spacious and deserved 0-3 victory against Beerschot. Blauw-Zwart had quickly grabbed a double lead thanks to Dost and Kossounou. In the closing stages, Lang made it 0-3. Thanks to this win, Club is seven points ahead of first pursuer Genk.

Club Brugge started with the same eleven as last week against STVV. Bas Dost was fit in time and was again in the starting line-up. The Dutchman was flanked up front by Lang and Diatta. Charles De Ketelaere again played at the position of Hans Vanaken, who was serving his second day of suspension. The defeats of first pursuers Genk and Charleroi allowed Blauw-Zwart to make an excellent case in the standings, just like last week.

The Brugge side took control of the match immediately and also created the first danger: a low cross from Lang was cleared just in front of Dost. After a quarter of an hour it was a goal. De Ketelaere served Bas Dost and the Dutchman deviated the ball into the goal with his outside foot. A few minutes later, Club doubled their lead: a hard shot by Lang deviated and was tapped in from close range by Odilon Kossounou.

Club Brugge continued to play eager and focused soccer, keeping full control of the match. It also came close to a third goal several times. After a solo from De Ketelaere, Vanhamel saved, Vormer curled a free kick just wide of the crossbar, a spectacular effort from Lang went wide and Vanhamel boxed away a blast from Diatta. The only things Beerschot could do in return were a disallowed goal by Holzhauser and a drive by Vorogovskiy that was saved by Mignolet.

After halftime, the home team threw in an extra striker with Noubissi. Beerschot tried to put Club under more pressure, although Blauw-Zwart did not let themselves be outplayed. Suzuki did manage to threaten twice: first Mignolet caught his shot and then the striker's attempt went wide. At the other end, Bruges came very close to a third goal: Vormer outmaneuvered Vanhamel but his shot was turned away just before the line by Coulibaly. Immediately afterwards Vanhamel parried a shot by Dost.

The Dutchman then went to the side as a precaution, allowing De Ketelaere to move back into the center of attack. The young Bruges player served first the substitute Ricca and then Rits, but both players just failed to score. At the other end, Noubissi lashed out with a clever volley, but Mignolet was able to push it just over the crossbar with an excellent reflex. Moments later Vanhamel grabbed a shot from Rits, while Kossounou was able to head a ball away from his own goal line.

In the closing stages of the game, Beerschot was unable to make a fist, while Club came closer and closer to scoring 0-3. Noa Lang aimed wide at first, but seven minutes before the end the Dutchman hit the ball into the goal via the inside of the post. Stefano Denswil celebrated his return, but the score did not change. Thanks to this victory, Club Brugge increases its lead. It now counts seven points ahead of first pursuer Genk.

Jupiler Pro League - Playday 20
Spectators: none - Olympic Stadium
Referee: Lothar D'Hondt
Beerschot: Mike Vanhamel - Reda Halaimia (63' Loris Brogno), Frédéric Frans, Dario Van den Buijs Jan Van den Bergh - Abdoulie Sanyang (63' Joren Dom), Ismaila Coulibaly (87' Broadbent), Tom Pietermaat (77' Blessing Eleke), Raphael Holzhauser, Yan Vorogovskiy (46' Marius Noubissi) - Musashi Suzuki. Coach: Hernán Losada.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Odilon Kossounou, Brandon Mechele, Eduard Sobol (57' Federico Ricca) - Ruud Vormer, Mats Rits (84' Stefano Denswil), Charles De Ketelaere (84' Youssouph Badji) - Krépin Diatta, Bas Dost (62' Éder Balanta), Noa Lang (84' David Okereke). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Nick Shinton, Simon Deli, Ignace Van der Brempt and Thomas Van den Keybus. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Yellow cards: Van den Buijs, Sobol, Coulibaly, Van den Bergh.
Red cards: none
Goals: 15' Dost (0-1), 19' Kossounou (0-2), 83' Lang (0-3).

Text: Steven Floin