Club Brugge earned an emphatic 1-3 victory away at Anderlecht. Romeo Vermant gave Blauw-Zwart an early lead. Just before half-time, Vanaken and Tzolis added two more goals, before Stroeykens pulled one back for the hosts. The second half saw no more goals, meaning Club keeps breathing down Union's neck with one more game to play.
Nicky Hayen named the same eleven players from last week's win at Genk, meaning Jackers retained his position in goal while Vetlesen played in support of Vermant and Tzolis. Because of Union's win on Saturday, Club knew exactely what they had to do: only a win would keep the title hope alive. The first real threat came from Stroeykens, but Jackers made two solid games to keep the home side from opening the scoring. Club responsed swiftly: Tzolis cut inside from the left, but saw his effort parried away by Coosemans. Moments later, Coosemans was beaten nevertheless. Vanaken with a brilliant searching pass towards Tzolis, who lost his marker and then squared it to Romeo Vermant in front of goal. The youngster outpaced Vertonghen and sidefooted it in.
Anderlecht went looking for the equaliser and created some danger. Dolberg had the best chance when he directed Hazard's cross against the post with a clever backheel. Angulo was thwarted by Mechele and Rits couldn't find a teammate after reaching the byline. At the other end Vermant didn't spot the unmarked Tzolis and his shot was easily saved by Coosemans.
Blauw-Zwart were untroubled by Anderlecht's pressure and hit back hard with a double blow in the closing minutes of the first half. After a fine attacking move, Vermant feeded the ball to Vanaken at the back post and the captain scored an easy goal to double the lead. Moments later Vertonghen brought down Tzolis inside the penalty box and the Greek stepped up to fire home from the penalty spot. But it was not over yet. Stroeykens unleashed a fierce shot that went in via the fingertips of Jackers and the underside of the crossbar to keep the game interesting. When Mechele slipped in the dying seconds, Hazard could have made it even more interesting, but he hoofed the ball over the target.
After the break, Michał Skóraś came on for Tzolis, who had been booked earlier. Club picked up where they left off: a De Cuyper cross was volleyed wide by Vermant, and a De Cuyper free kick shaved the top corner. Skóraś also broke through on the left, but his shot was blocked by Dendoncker. Anderlecht had little to offer in return, apart from Dolberg's shot that whizzed wide and a blocked effort from Angulo.
Midway through the second half Vanaken saw an attempt blocked by Simic. In a try to shift momentum, Anderlecht coach Hasi brought on a couple of fresh legs, but that didn't change the story of the game. A strike from Verschaeren went over the crossbar and Kanaté dragged his shot wide. It was Club that came close to a fourth goal, but Nilsson's goal-bound effort took a deflection. In the final minutes Maamar had the last say for Anderlecht, but Jackers was equal to it with a good reflex save.
Thanks to this win, Club Brugge stay breathing down Union's neck. To be crowned champions next week, Club needs to get a better result against Antwerp than Union against Gent.
Jupiler Pro League – Champions’ Play-offs: fixture 9
Attendance: 21.000 – Lotto Park
Referee: Erik Lambrechts
RSC Anderlecht: Colin Coosemans – Lucas Hey (46’ Ludwig Augustinsson), Jan Vertonghen (69’ Ali Maamar), Jan-Carlo Simic – Nilson Angulo, Mats Rits (46’ Yari Verschaeren), Leander Dendoncker, Mario Stroeykens (81’ Ibrahima Kanaté), Tristan Degreef (69’ César Huerta) – Kasper Dolberg, Thorgan Hazard.
Coach: Besnik Hasi.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers – Hugo Siquet (72’ Joaquin Seys), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (90+3’ Casper Nielsen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken – Hugo Vetlesen (78’ Bjorn Meijer), Romeo Vermant (72’ Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis (46’ Michał Skóraś).
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Jorne Spileers, Shandre Campbell and Ferran Jutglà.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Vermant, Tzolis, Vertonghen, Coosemans, Siquet, Skóraś.
Red cards: none
Goals: 14’ Vermant (0-1), 43’ Vanaken (0-2), 45+1’ Tzolis (penalty, 0-3), 45+3’ Stroeykens (1-3).