Club Brugge secured a spectacular 4-3 home victory against Zulte Waregem. The hosts took an early lead through Stanković, but then forgot to convert its total dominance into more goals. The visitors punished that, scoring the 1-2 against the run of play. After the break, Club managed to rake in that deserved victory, goals courtesy of Mechele, Stanković and Tresoldi. In the dying stages of the game, Opoku still made it exciting, but Club held on.
Two changes to the team that had won at Kazakhstan on Tuesday as Joel Ordóñez sat out a red card suspension, replaced at center back by Jorne Spileers. In midfield, Raphael Onyedika - back from the Africa Cup - reclaimed his place at the expense of Hugo Vetlesen. Not yet recovered, Tzolis fell out of the selection, so Mamadou Diakhon - an absolute standout against Kairat Almaty - retained his starting place.
The crowd at Jan Breydel saw a Club side monopolizing the ball from the opening minute, with a few openings early on. The first real chance was for Diakhon, who cut inside well but could not frame his shot. Five minutes in, the score was opened, as Aleksandar Stanković kicked a cross from Seys into goal in one time. Club continued to completely dominate the match even after that: Gabriel caught a shot by Forbs, an effort by Vanaken was blocked and Diakhon seemed to curl the 0-2 into goal off the far post. However, the goal was disallowed due to very close offside.
Playing Zulte Waregem from pillar to post, Club gathered an impressive ninety percent ball possession. Another attempt by Diakhon hit the post and a shot by Vanaken was blocked. The visitors were seeing stars, but struck mercilessly in the closing stages of the first half: first Aké surprised Jackers with a seemingly impossible lob from just outside the box and straight after Ementa mercilessly punished Onyedika's ball loss. 1-2 behind after what truly had been an impressive first half performance. Only in football!
Not deterred, Club immediately went in search of the equalizer. A shot by Diakhon went wide and Vermant was unable to convert a cross from Sabbe. Straight out of the dressing rooms, Diakhon produced another fine corner kick to find Mechele by the first post to convert it into goal (2-2). Club now kept its foot on the throttle and Gabriel had a great foot reflex in store to deny a deflected shot by Sabbe, and immediately after that another attempt by Sabbe was blocked.
The deserved 3-2 fell on the hour after a wonderful attack: after some clever combinations, Vanaken brought the ball in front, where Stanković took it on the chest and kicked it in on the turn. The Bruges players were eager for more security and kept pushing. Goalkeeper Gabriel had to save attempts by Vermant and Onyedika. In the end it was the substitute Tresoldi who seemed to decide the match with the 4-2, but still it was not over just yet. Opoku with the control after a quick deep ball by Gabriel, and moments later it was 4-3again, making it exciting after all. Moments later Mechele headed in a free kick, but that goal was disallowed because of a push prior to the goal. The visitors pulled out all the stops in the closing stages, but Club held on. It can look forward with confidence to next Wednesday's crucial game against Olympique Marseille.
Jupiler Pro League - Match day 22
Audience: 25,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Bert Verbeke
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (81' Hugo Siquet), Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers (75' Vince Osuji), Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković, Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs (90' Bjorn Meijer), Romeo Vermant (75' Nicolò Tresoldi), Mamadou Diakhon (81' Hugo Vetlesen). Bench: Simon Mignolet, Tian Nai Koren, Ludovit Reis and Cisse Sandra. Coach: Ivan Leko.
SV Zulte Waregem: Brent Gabriël - Lukas Willen (64' Tochukwu Nnadi), Anton Tanghe (64' Benoit De Jaegere), Jakob Kiilerich - Benoit Nyssen, Thomas Claes (79' Tobias Hedl), Enrique Lofolomo, Emran Soglo (31' Yannick Cappelle) - Jeppe Erenbjerg, Anosike Ementa (64' Joseph Opoku), Marley Aké. Coach: Sven Vandenbroeck.
Yellow: Kiilerich, Ementa, Forbs, De Jaegere, Mechele, Vanaken.
Red: none
Goals: 6' Stanković (1-0), 38' Aké (1-1), 40' Ementa (1-2), 47' Mechele (2-2), 60' Stanković (3-2), 78' Tresoldi (4-2), 80' Opoku (4-3).