Club bags three points following 1-2 win

Club Brugge secured a hard-fought 1-2 victory away against Zulte Waregem. Noa Lang gave Blauw-Zwart an early lead, but the home side pulled level through Ndour. In the closing stages of the first half, Hans Vanaken brought Club back into the lead. No more goals after the break, so Club grab all three points at the Gaverbeek.

Coach Scott Parker made four changes after the tie against Charleroi. Tajon Buchanan sat out a one-match ban and was replaced by Clinton Mata as right full-back. To his left: Odoi and Dedryck Boyata as the two central defenders. In the attacking line Andreas Skov Olsen and Ferran Jutglà who forced Antonio Nusa and Roman Yaremchuk on the bench. Zulte Waregem had to host Club without Ruud Vormer, who wasn't eligable to play.

The home side had a first glance at goal. Former Club Brugge player Jelle Vossen latched onto a through ball, but Simon Mignolet had rushed out to collect. At the other end, Lang saw his shot blocked. Not long after Club had a bit of luck. When Jutglà unleashed a left-footed strike, he slipped and the ball fell into the feet of Vanaken who deviated into the path of Noa Lang at the far post and he tapped in easily. The linesman raised his flag, but after a VAR review the goal stood.

Fifteen minutes into the game, Jutglà limped off and was replaced by Yaremchuk. The Ukrainian forward didn't take long before teeing up Lang on the left-hand side, but the Dutchman failed to reach his Danish teammates Nielsen and Skov Olsen who were unmarked.

Instead of doubling the lead, the home side pulled level when Mata couldn't clear Ciranni's cross and Ndour fired home from close range. Zulte Waregem pressed for a second goal. Vossen headed wide, Ndour forced Mignolet into making a good save and later he volleyed wide. Deep into stoppage time Club upped the pressure on Zulte again - with success. A corner kick was headed back in front of goal by Meijer and Vanaken volleyed it into the roof of the goal.

The second half started with a chance for the blue and black. Lang swooped in a cross, Vanaken put it over the crossbar. Zulte Waregem refused to just give in and kept playing intensively. That resulted in a shot by Rommens over the crossbar and a scrimmage in front of goal that didn't result in anything. For Club, Skov Olsen's shot was blocked by a defender.

Zulte Waregem were mostly in control of the game and came close to the equalizer on the hour mark when Vossen slammed the ball against the post. Moments later Ndour aimed right in the arms of Mignolet and the Golden Boot winner was called upon again when Brüls curled a free-kick between the sticks.

As Zulte Waregem was getting a more and more powerful grip on the game, Scott Parker responded by bringing on Sylla, Rits and Sowah for Boyata, Nielsen and Yaremchuk.

The triple change resulted in a more balanced game between the two sides with Club creating some danger. An effort by Skov Olsen went wide. The Dane sent Noa Lang through on goal shortly afterwards, but he was stopped by Borja Lopez. Five minutes before time, the same duo vied for the ball. Lang could go through on goal but was hacked down by the Spanish defender, who was shown a straight red.

Zulte Waregem ended the game with ten men. The score remained unchanged and so Club Brugge took the three points, moving up to fourth place.

Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 23
Attendance: 10.000 – Elindus Arena
Referee: Kevin Van Damme
Zulte Waregem: Sammy Bossut – Borja Lopez, Timothy Derijck (66’ Oleksandr Drambaev), Novatus Miroshi – Alessandro Ciranni, Abdoulaye Sisssako, Nicolas Rommens (75’ Daniel Ramirez), Alieu Fadera - Alioune Ndour, Christian Brüls – Jelle Vossen (75’ Chinonso Offor). Coach: Mbaye Leye.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Clinton Mata (60’ Brandon Mechele), Dedryck Boyata (75’ Abakar Sylla), Denis Odoi, Bjorn Meijer – Casper Nielsen (75’ Mats Rits), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen, Ferran Jutglà (17’ Roman Yaremchuk, 75’ Kamal Sowah), Noa Lang. Bench: Josef Bursik, Nick Shinton, Jack Hendry and Antonio Nusa. Coach: Scott Parker.
Yellow cards: Boyata, Vanaken, Lopez, Sowah, Fadera.
Red cards: 85’ Lopez.
Goals: 7’ Lang (0-1), 32’ Ndour (1-1), 45+6’ Vanaken (1-2).