After the important win on last week's opening fixture, coach Carl Hoefkens made some changes in his starting eleven. Hendry got his chance in the heart of defence, at the expense of Mechele. Balanta and Sobol also came into the team, forcing Mbamba and Meijer on the bench. Finally, summer signing Nielsen was given the nod after he had come on last week. Vormer had to make peace with a place on the bench. Eupen's head coach Storck sent the same eleven players into the fray as last week.
Club could not have started the game any worse. A cross from the left found the head of Magnée, who had escaped from Nsoki's attention, and left Mignolet no chance with a glancing header into the far corner, to give Eupen the lead. Club's reaction was immediate. Five minutes later we had parity again when Nurudeen missed the ball on a corner kick and Jutglà took full advantage to score his first league goal in blue and black service. Eupen were not immediately impressed, however, and continued to play freely. This resulted in a chance for Déom, but his shot from close range was too tame to get past Mignolet. A few minutes later the home side were in front again. Déom found Prevljak just outside the penalty area and he did not hesitate to fire the ball into the bottom left corner.
Eupen were the stronger team and Mignolet was needed to keep the hosts from increasing their lead. Nuhu tried to put the ball through the legs of the Bruges goalie, but he was on hand and wouldn't let it happen. On the half-hour mark, Club tried to respond, but Sobol's shot went wide of the goal. Shortly afterwards it was Eupen again in the attacking third.. Prevljak aimed the ball between Mignolet's legs, but didn't get it on target.
On the other side of the pitch Skov Olsen aimed a free-kick over the target. Shortly before the half-time interval, both teams create a few chances. First Mignolet parried away Peeters' short-range effort. For the blue and black, Jutglà latched onto Vanaken's through ball, but his first touch wasn't good enough. This inspired Nielsen and Hendry to have a go, but Nurudeen didn't have to intervene.
Club had to start the second half differently, but Eupen continued to be the driving force. Charles-Cook missed his shot completely, so Mignolet was not needed. A little later, Prevljak infiltrated the penalty area, but his shot ended up in the side-netting. It took some time for the blue and black to react, but it did come. Jutglà tried from far out, but Nurudeen had no problem with his attempt. Suddenly, Lang had a lot of green in front of him on a quick counterattacking move, but he failed to find Jutglà.
On the hour, however, Club were lucky not to concede another goal when Prevljak and Kral failed to score from close range.
Coach Hoefkens had to do something and made a triple substitution, Meijer, Mbamba and Sowah came on. Shortly after, Eupen had to go on with 10 after Magnée was shown his second yellow card. As expected, Eupen dug in their heels and Club went for the equaliser. But it was not easy for the visitors to create real danger. On the contrary, Mignolet had to show his skill again on a low effort from Peeters. Club still had some time to get something out of this game when there were eight minutes of added time.
Jutglà came close to earn Club a point in the closing minutes, but Nurudeen tipped away his header on a corner kick. That was it for Club who suffer a first league defeat already. Friday evening, Club welcomes Zulte-Waregem at Jan Breydel.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 2
Attendance: 8.363 – Kehrwegstadion
Referee: Kevin Van Damme
KAS Eupen: Abdul Nurudeen – Yentl Van Genechten, Boris Lambert, Jan Kral – Gary Magnée, Stef Peeters, Jérôme Déom (63’ Konan N’Dri), Isaac Christie-Davies, Regan Charles-Cook – Isaac Nuhu (70’ Jason Davidson), Smail Prevljak (83’ Lorenzo Offermann).
Bank: Tom Roufosse, Konan N’Dri, Jason Davidson, Tyreek Magee, Jan Gorenc, Rune Paeshuyse, Jan Gokenc, Lorenzo Offermann
Coach: Bernd Storck
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Clinton Mata, Jack Hendry, Stanley Nsoki (62’ Bjorn Meijer) – Andreas Skov Olsen, Casper Nielsen, Éder Balanta (62’ Noah Mbamba), Hans Vanaken, Eduard Sobol (77’ Cyle Larin) – Ferran Jutglà, Noa Lang (62’ Kamal Sowah).
Bench: Senne Lammens, Nick Shinton, Bjorn Meijer, Brandon Mechele, Noah Mbamba, Owen Otasowie, Ruud Vormer, Cyle Larin, Kamal Sowah.
Coach: Carl Hoefkens.
Yellow cards: Peeters, Magnée, Christie-Davies, Hendry, Nielsen
Red cards: Magnée (2x yellow)
Goals: 1’ Magnée (1-0), 7’ Jutglà (1-1), 19’ Prevljak (2-1)
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