Club Brugge recorded a hard-fought 1-2 victory on the field of KV Mechelen. Blauw-Zwart took the lead on the stroke of halftime thanks to a penalty shot by De Cuyper. Late in injury time, KV Mechelen equalized through Raman, but Club finally drew the longest straw thanks to a header by Joel Ordóñez.
Nicky Hayen made six changes to the team that beat Patro Eisden in the Cup on Tuesday. Mignolet, Seys, Spileers, Jashari, Vetlesen and Skov Olsen replaced Jackers, Sabbe, Romero, Onyedika, Nielsen and Tzolis. Despite the many substitutions, the Brugge players simply continued on their momentum from the past few weeks. Already in the opening minute, Blauw-Zwart gathered a good chance: Vetlesen played the ball perfectly in front of goal, but Talbi aimed just wide at the far post. Immediately afterwards Club tried its luck on a corner kick with a rehearsed number, but Jashari's shot was blocked.
Even after that scorching start, Blauw-Zwart remained the most threatening team: a shot by Skov Olsen went over goal, an attempt by Talbi was blocked and a free kick by De Cuyper went a meter wide. The only thing KV Mechelen could do in return was a shot by Lauberbach that went wide via Spileers. As time went on, the game got watered down - literally and figuratively - but on the stroke of half-time the 0-1 fell. Maxim De Cuyper was brought down in the sixteen meters and faultlessly converted the penalty kick himself.
After the break, the home team got off to the best start. After ten minutes, Mechelen hoped for a penalty, after a cross from the right touched Spileers' hand. Referee Van Driessche went to look at the footage at the request of VAR, but allowed play to continue. Moments later, Mechele had to head away a dangerous cross, while Jashari blocked a shot by Schoofs and Mechele did the same on an attempt by Pflücke.
Club continued to play organized soccer and had an excellent chance to double the lead fifteen minutes before time. Seys crossed almost all the way across the pitch and served the newly-installed Tzolis, but the Greek could not frame his shot. KV Mechelen stepped up the pressure in the closing stages and also came close to the equalizer ten minutes before time. Mignolet parried a shot by Lauberbach and then also had a fine reaction to Raman's rebound. The Limburger also saved Schoofs' shot.
The devil was in the detail as the final phase turned into a rollercoaster of emotions. Jutglà suddenly found himself alone, but was stopped by the Mechelen defense. At the other end, Van Driessche pointed to the spot after an alleged foul by Ordóñez on Lauberbach. However, the footage showed that there was nothing wrong, so no penalty for the home team. In minute 95, however, it became 1-1 when Raman kicked in from close range. Club seemed to lose two points, but that was beyond Joel Ordóñez. The defender headed in a free kick from De Cuyper to give Club the three points in the end.
Jupiler Pro League - Day 17
Spectators: 16,248 - AFAS Stadium
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
KV Mechelen: Ortwin De Wolf - Toon Raemaekers (88' Julien Ngoy), Bas Van den Eynden, Ahmed Touba - Patrick Pflücke (78' Rafik Belghali), Aziz Ouattara (67' Benito Raman), Rob Schoofs, José Marsà - Geoffrey Hairemans (78' Bilal Bafdili), Lion Lauberbach, Kerim Mrabti. Coach: Besnik Hasi
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys, Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Hugo Vetlesen (67' Raphael Onyedika), Ardon Jashari (87' Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (78' Joel Ordóñez), Romeo Vermant (78' Ferran Jutglà), Chemsdine Talbi (67' Christos Tzolis). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Kyriani Sabbe and Gustaf Nilsson. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Marsà.
Red cards: none
Goals: 45+2' De Cuyper (penalty, 0-1), 90+5' Raman (1-1), 90+11' Ordóñez (1-2).