Club condemns Seraing to second division after 2-0 win

Club Brugge won the home match against Seraing 2-0. Blauw-Zwart had to be patient to dismantle the visitors' defence, but Ferran Jutglà broke the deadlock and Antonio Nusa decided the game with a late second goal. Club's victory means Seraing relegates to 1B, Belgium's second division.

Last week's 0-3 victory against Mechelen filled Rik De Mil's side with enough confidence to entertain Seraing. The coach had little reason to change a lot to his line-up. Bjorn Meijer returned after last week's food poisoning, which meant Tajon Buchanan had to settle for the substitutes' bench.

From the opening minute Club camped on the visitors' half, who focussed on their defensive duties in a cagy 4-5-1 formation. There was little room for Club to find the opening, so Vanaken and Mata tried it from distance but that didn't worry the goalkeeper.

As time went on, Blauw-Zwart upped the pressure on Seraing: a shot by Onyedika trickled a metre wide, while Dietsch was forced into making a save by Jutglà and Lang. Moments later, Mata sent Jutglà towards goal, but the Catalan failed to outwit the goalkeeper who had come of his line. The striker then faced Dietsch again, after a blocked shot by Lang suddenly rolled in front of his feet. An effort by Vanaken was also blocked. The Liège men themselves got no further than a Mvoué cross that was intercepted by Mignolet.

On the half-hour mark Club created the best chance so far. Rits whipped in a cross and Jutglà headed towards goal, but Dietsch tipped in from underneath the crossbar. Shortly after referee Smet waved away the penalty appeal when Jutglà was pulled down inside the area.

Club kept looking for the opening goal, but Rits skied his finish and Vanaken saw his header hit the crossbar.

The second half was a copy of the first with Club dominating the game. After a good attacking move, Lang was outmuscled by two visitors but Smet let play continue. Moments later goalkeeper Dietsch denied the Dutchman after a silky run saw him slalom through the Seraing defence.

Ten minutes into the second half Club got their well-deserved goal when Lang teed up Ferran Jutglà and the Spaniard finished it off with a brilliant left-footed strike.

A few minutes later Lang set subsitute Romeo Vermant up, but Dietsch was the equal of the effort. Later a cross by Meijer evaded the young Vermant. Club kept pushing but Jutglà's header flew into the arms of Dietsch, while Mechele's effort took a deflection on a defender before it went wide. With just that small margin, Club had to stay focussed. Fifteen minutes before the end Seraing almost equalised, but Mata did great to block a close-range header.

In the closing minutes Andreas Skov Olsen returned after two months of injury woes. He immediately created danger when his low strike hit the post and goalkeeper Dietsch unwillingly turned it into a corner kick with the back of his head. One minute later Onyedika saw his volley slam against the post as well.

Finally, in the 90th minute Club decided the match when Skov Olsen played Antonio Nusa through on goal and the Norwegian beat the goalkeeper - his first of this campaign in the league.

Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 32
Attendance: 26.000 – Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Wim Smet
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Clinton Mata, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer (74’ Tajon Buchanan) – Mats Rits, Casper Nielsen (54’ Romeo Vermant), Raphaël Onyedika, Hans Vanaken, Noa Lang (84’ Andreas Skov Olsen) – Ferran Jutglà (74’ Antonio Nusa). Bench: Senne Lammens, Nick Shinton, Kyriani Sabbe, Abakar Sylla en Cisse Sandra. Coach: Rik De Mil.
RFC Seraing: Guillaume Dietsch – Sambou Sissoko, Noah Solheid (61’ Christophe Lepoint), Marvin Tshibuabua, Moustapha Mbow, Gérald Kilota - Abou Ba, Mathieu Cachbach (85’ Morgan Poaty), Sami Lahssaini, Steve Mvoué (67’ Vagner) - Marius Mouandilmadji. Coach: Jean-Sébastien Legros.
Yellow cards: none
Red cards: none
Goals: 56’ Jutglà (1-0), 90’ Nusa (2-0).