Club plays 2-2 draw against KV Mechelen

Club Brugge got stuck at a 2-2 draw against KV Mechelen at home. Blauw-Zwart led 2-0 thanks to fine goals by Vormer and Lang, but through De Camargo and a late goal by Schoofs Club had to settle for a point in the end.

Due to the busy schedule, Philippe Clement again allowed some players to rest. At the back, that was the case for Clinton Mata. So Brandon Mechele rejoined the team and Kossounou moved to the right side. Up front, Michael Krmenčík started as the deepest striker. The Czech was flanked by David Okereke and Noa Lang. Diatta, Dennis and De Ketelaere started on the bench as a result.

Club played an excellent game against Lazio on Wednesday, but was insufficiently rewarded for it. It immediately went forward against Malinwa. The first chance was for Okereke, but his shot was blocked. Corona-plagued KV Mechelen tried to counter through De Camargo, but it was the Bruges fans who took the lead before the quarter-hour mark: Ruud Vormer curled a free kick delightfully into the top corner.

Blauw-Zwart was clearly in control and only had to allow a shot by Storm. The deserved 2-0 fell before the half hour had elapsed. After a beautiful attack Vanaken served the infiltrating Noa Lang who slid the cross past Coucke. Chances followed for Rits, Lang, Krmenčík and Okereke, while a hard shot by Vormer flew just over the crossbar. Yet Mechelen did not give up: Mignolet first had a great reflex on a shot by Hairemans, but shortly before half time he was without a chance on a heel from Igor De Camargo.

Club immediately went in search of a third goal after the break. That seemed to succeed, too, when Krmenčík pushed in a cross-shot from Okereke at the far post. However, the goal was disallowed for offside. Malinwa did not give in and lurked on the counter. Both Storm and De Camargo had good chances, but Simon Mignolet was able to intervene.

The equalizer was in the air and Philippe Clement intervened: De Ketelaere and Diatta replaced Krmenčík and Lang. Diatta did pan out with a shot, but the Bruges engine did not seem to get going after the break. Instead, it was the visitors who gained more and more confidence. A shot by Bijker first went high over, but ten minutes before time the equalizer was a fact: after a cross from Hairemans, Engvall served Rob Schoofs at the far post and he headed in the 2-2.

Club threatened to lose two points and pulled forward with all its might in the closing stages. However, Coucke caught a shot by De Ketelaere, while Rits could not frame his effort. The last chance was for Mechele, but his volley was blocked. So it remained 2-2, leaving Blauw-Zwart to settle for a point.

Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 11
Spectators: none - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Odilon Kossounou (73' Clinton Mata), Brandon Mechele, Simon Deli, Eduard Sobol - Ruud Vormer, Mats Rits, Hans Vanaken - David Okereke, Michael Krmenčík (58' Charles De Ketelaere), Noa Lang (61' Krépin Diatta). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Éder Balanta, Siebe Schrijvers, Youssouph Badji and Emmanuel Dennis. Coach: Philippe Clement.
KV Mechelen: Gaëtan Coucke - Sandy Walsh, Jordi Vanlerberghe, Siemen Voet, Lucas Bijker - Kerim Mrabti (67' Gustav Engvall), Steven Defour (74' Rob Schoofs), Joachim Van Damme, Geoffrey Hairemans, Nikola Storm - Igor De Camargo (85' Onur Kaya). Coach: Wouter Vrancken.
Yellow cards: Vormer.
Red cards: none
Goals: 13' Vormer (1-0), 28' Lang (2-0), 42' De Camargo (2-1), 81' Schoofs (2-2).

Text: Steven Floin