Club wins city derby 2-1

Club Brugge won the derby against Cercle 2-1. Krépin Diatta gave Blauw-Zwart the lead halfway through the first half, but Cercle was able to equalize just after halftime through Musaba. Thanks to a header goal by Simon Deli, Club was crowned Team of the City again!

Club started the city derby with the same eleven players that swept Zulte Waregem last week. Blauw-Zwart continued in the same vein and immediately grabbed Cercle by the throat. After twenty seconds Diatta had a good chance, but the Senegalese slammed the ball into the side netting. Immediately afterwards, Ricca just failed to reach Diatta, while Krmenčík was a toe short of intercepting a too short backhanded ball.

The chance to make it 1-0 came after six minutes: Diatta laid the ball out for Krmenčík, but the Czech aimed wide. The miss seemed to give Cercle confidence, because they were able to create danger themselves twice: Musaba headed just wide after a cross from Hotic, while a shot by the same Musaba also went wide. Blauw-Zwart did not allow themselves to be put off balance and went on the attack again: after a cross from De Ketelaere, Diatta headed just wide and after a fine action by Diatta again, the Senegalese's shot was blocked in extremis.

Halfway through the first half, the deserved 1-0 came after all: Krmenčík got to the goal line and played the ball back to Krépin Diatta, who shot the ball across. Soon after, Krmenčík tried his luck with a long-distance lob, but his effort hit the crossbar. Club often produced beautiful combinations, but there was no second goal before halftime. Diatta was able to score, but his goal was disallowed due to offside. Rits also tried his luck with a long-distance shot, but the Antwerp native was unable to frame his effort.

The second half started with a cold shower for Club: after a through pass from Hotic, Anthony Musaba was able to shoot in the equalizer from close range. Blauw-Zwart tried to respond immediately, but Diatta extended a cross from Vanaken wide of goal. At the other end, Ugbo eagerly lay down after a duel with Deli and referee Visser actually pointed to the spot. At the request of the VAR, Visser reviewed the footage and ruled it was not a penalty after all.

Club got off scot-free and immediately went in search of another lead. A cross from Diatta was just cleared by the on-rushing De Ketelaere, but halfway through the second half, the 2-1 was a fact: after a corner kick from Vormer, Simon Deli headed the ball across. Blauw-Zwart immediately tried to push on: after a free kick by Vormer, a volley by Krmenčík went wide, while a beautiful action by Diatta and a free kick by Vormer also failed to go in.

In the closing stages, Didillon had to intervene twice: first the Frenchman parried a hard shot by substitute Dennis, while he also flattened a low slide by Diatta. Cercle could no longer make a fist and in injury time the final chord was for Michael Krmenčík. The Czech took advantage with a nice dribble, but his shot went just wide. It remained 2-1, allowing Club to take twelve out of twelve and look forward with confidence to next week's topper against Anderlecht.

Jupiler Pro League - Playday 7
Spectators: 9.000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Clinton Mata, Odilon Kossounou, Simon Deli, Federico Ricca (66' Eduard Sobol) - Ruud Vormer (86' Thomas Van den Keybus), Mats Rits, Hans Vanaken - Krépin Diatta, Michael Krmenčík, Charles De Ketelaere (73' Emmanuel Dennis). Bench: Ethan Horvath, Siebe Schrijvers, Youssouph Badji, Brandon Mechele and Maxim De Cuyper. Coach: Philippe Clement.
Cercle Brugge: Thomas Didillon - Robbe Decostere (85' Vitinho), Naomichi Ueda, Jean Marcelin, Dimitar Velkovski - Dino Hotic, Franck Kanouté (73' Charles Vanhoutte), Kevin Hoggas - Anthony Musaba, Iké Ugbo, Kylian Hazard (78' Thibo Somers). Coach: Paul Clement.
Yellow cards: Marcelin, Hazard, Krmenčík.
Red cards: none
Goals: 22' Diatta (1-0), 46' Musaba (1-1), 68' Deli (2-1).

Text: Steven Floin