Club Brugge beat champions Union 1-0 at home. The Bruges players had to fight the Brussels defense for a long time, but fifteen minutes before time Carlos Forbs provided the redemption.
The Bruges starting lineup underwent two changes compared to the team that went down against Atalanta Bergamo on Tuesday. At the back, Bjorn Meijer replaced Kyriani Sabbe, moving Seys to the right flank. Romeo Vermant also appeared at kickoff, playing as an attacking midfielder, at the back of deep striker Tresoldi. Cisse Sandra disappeared to the bench as a result.
From the opening minute, the Brugge players claimed possession of the ball. The first danger also came from Club, but a free kick by Vanaken was blocked and Stanković's rebound went wide via a defender. The first real chance came just under twenty minutes in: after a long kick by Jackers, Tzolis Zorgane shook off the ball, but Niang was able to clear it with an ultimate intervention.
Blauw-Zwart monopolized the ball, but gritted its teeth against Union's solid block. Ten minutes before half time, they managed to put the Brusselers out of action. After a fine attack, Tzolis served Forbs, but the Portuguese's shot was blocked by Burgess. Forbs, with his speed, was a constant scourge for the Union defense. Five minutes before the break, he was pulled down by Leysen in the sixteen yards and so ref Butterberg pointed to the spot. However, the penalty was overturned by VAR as Forbs was offside.
At the start of the second half, Club immediately grabbed the Brusselers by the throat. After a few seconds, a volley by Vermant stranded on the roof of the goal, and moments later Forbs just couldn't serve Vermant in the sixteen meters. Blue-Black developed crushing pressure, but Union held firm. For example, Scherpen had a great reflex on a rocket from Stanković toward the store hook. Shortly thereafter, Vermant put himself through well at the back line, but again Scherpen was well in between, preventing both Tzolis and Seys from reaching it. All Union could do in return was a shot by Mac Allister that went over goal.
As time passed, the Bridge Kings had to release their stranglehold. Union clearly made peace with a point and began to stall for time at times. Club continued to look for an opening and finally found it 15 minutes before time. Tresoldi launched Carlos Forbs and the Portuguese express train was unstoppable: his hard blast flew perfectly into the short corner. Union tried to respond with long-distance shots by Rasmussen and Schoofs, but the 1-0 remained on the board. Thanks to this victory, Club Brugge is approaching Union with three points.
Jupiler Pro League - Playday 10
Spectators: 28,000 - Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Jan Boterberg
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Aleksandar Stanković, Hans Vanaken, Romeo Vermant (66' Mamadou Diakhon) - Carlos Forbs (84' Ludovit Reis, 88' Cisse Sandra), Nicolò Tresoldi, Christos Tzolis. Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Gustaf Nilsson, Hugo Siquet, Lynnt Audoor, Kyriani Sabbe and Shandre Campbell. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Union Sint-Gillis: Kjell Scherpen - Kevin Mac Allister, Christian Burgess, Fedde Leysen - Anan Khalaili (81' Louis Patris), Kamiel Van de Perre (81' Rob Schoofs), Adem Zorgane, Anouar Aït El Hadj (59' Mathias Rasmussen) , Ousseynou Niang - Kevin Rodriguez (59' Marc Giger) , Raul Alexander Florucz (46' Promise David). Coach: Sébastien Pocognoli.
Yellow cards: Mac Allister, Ordóñez, Khalaili, Giger, Tresoldi.
Red cards: none
Goal: 77' Forbs (1-0).