The clash at Jan Breydel between Club Brugge and Antwerp ended in a 2-1 win for the hosts. The stunning opener by Ferran Jutglà was canceled out in the second half by Ilenikhena, just on, but great team play allowed Hans Vanaken to score the winner in the dying minutes of the game.
Two personnel changes to Ronny Deila's outfit that had beaten Lugano on Thursday: in midfield, Raphaël Onyedika came on for Éder Balanta, while up front Ferran Jutglà was preferred over Igor Thiago. Both teams aimed their focus on the organisation from kick-off, keeping the two sides from creating much danger. Ten minutes into the game, Club came a first time, with Skov Olsen a free kick from a promising position into the wall. Moments later, the Dane pulled back a free kick towards Nielsen, but the shot from outside the box went over.
The first real chance coming from fine team play also came through Skov Olsen, delivering a curling cross cleared away just in time to deny Meijer from heading it in. Straight after, Nielsen had another crack at goal, but his shot got blocked, ending up with Jutglà who tried beating Butez with a placed shot, but the goalie proved the better of the effort. More than two poorly aimed shots by Ekkelenkamp and Balikwisha was not in it for the visitors, and just when everyone settled for the 0-0 at half time, magic happened at Jan Breydel. A long throw by Buchanan found Jutglà by the first post, where the Catalan juggled the ball three times with his back towards goal before tapping it in with the outside of his foot. A stroke of genius and a true wonder of a goal!
The game now finally opened up, and the second half started out in style. A neat back heel by Vanaken put Zinckernagel through with a shot on goal, but Butez could not be faulted. On the other side of the pitch Muja tried from an acute angle, but Club could also count on a Mignolet in form. More chances followed, with Buchanan's low shot going just wide, and a Skov Olsen cros cleared in the nick of time. The visitors finally cheered as they looked bound for the equaliser, but Bataille's goal was canceled out due to an off-side position.
Bringing on Nusa and Thiago for Zinckernagel and Jutglà, Deila saw how Club never really got into trouble, and remained the more threatening team. Skov Olsen was halted just in time, while Meijer was unable to reach a team mate, and Thiago saw his header saved by Butez. The 2-0 seemed moments away, but as it sometimes goes in football, the team seemingly in trouble scored the equaliser, George Ilenikhena, literally just on, tapping in a good cross by Corbanie from close range.
All to play for, and with De Cuyper and Vetlesen on, Club now took on an even more offensive stance. Vanaken saw his header cleared into corner kick, while Mignolet saved the day pawing away Alderweireld's header. With five minutes on the clock, Nusa set up Skov Olsen, all alone, but the Dane could not get a fine touch to the ball. Just like in the first half, however, Club kept the best for last. A good cross over the Antwerp defense by Nusa was chested by Igor Thiago, who was clear headed enough to tap it to Hans Vanaken, clinically putting it past Butez in the left hand corner!
Jupiler Pro League – Match day 12
Audience: 27,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Bram Van Driessche
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Tajon Buchanan, Brandon Mechele, Jorne Spileers, Bjorn Meijer (79’ Maxim De Cuyper) – Casper Nielsen (79’ Hugo Vetlesen), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen (92’ Joel Ordóñez), Ferran Jutglà (62’ Igor Thiago), Philip Zinckernagel (62’ Antonio Nusa). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte en Éder Balanta. Coach: Ronny Deila.
Royal Antwerp FC: Jean Butez – Ritchie De Laet (85’ Zeno Van den Bosch), Toby Alderweireld, Soumaïla Coulibaly, Jelle Bataille (63’ Kobe Corbanie) – Alhassan Yussuf, Arthur Vermeeren, Jurgen Ekkelenkamp – Arbnor Muja (72’ George Ilenikhena), Vincent Janssen, Michel Ange Balikwisha. Coach: Mark Van Bommel.
Yellow: Yussuf, Nielsen, Mechele, Skov Olsen, De Cuyper.
Red: none
Goals: 45’ Jutglà (1-0), 72’ Ilenikhena (1-1), 90’ Vanaken (2-1).
