Alfred Schreuder had little reasons to make a lot of changes to his starting eleven after his succesful debut as the new head coach. He made just one alteration: Noa Lang had returned after a one-match ban and was given the nod again. He forced winter signing Tajon Buchanon on the bench. Standard missed Cimirot and Muleka, who were replaced by Pavlovic and Dragus.
Club started the match lively and had most of the ball, which resulted in an early corner kick, but De Ketelaere couldn't keep his header low. The blue and black illustrated their dominance when Lang cut through Standard's defence after a good attacking move via Vanaken and Dost. The winger scored, but the flag was raised as Dost was in an offside position during the build-up.
Standard's response was swift and deadly. On a good counter-attacking play by the home side, the ball fell into the feet of Dønnum. The Norwegian feeded Cafaro who fired the ball past Mignolet. Club needed some time to recover, but eventually took over command of the game again. Nsoki almost put Club level when he rose highest to meet with a corner kick, but he headed the ball against the post. The ball bounced back, but Nsoki then blasted the ball over the crossbar.
Club was the dominant side and was mostly threatening on corner kicks, but both Lang and Rits were unlucky. Vormer and De Ketelaere couldn't get the ball past Bodart either. Club kept pressing and were rewarded five minutes before the end when Vanakan whipped in a cross in front of goal and Dost headed the ball past Bodart.
Both sides had one more effort at goal - Raksin for Standard and De Ketelaere for Club - but the score didn't change anymore.
Schreuder kept Rits, already booked, inside the dressing room and Buchanon came on at the start of the second half. But it was Standard that came out flying with an early second goal. Raskin's cross in front of goal was met by Emond who buried the ball. Club behind again.
But the blue and black bounced back quickly. First Vormer didn't connect perfectly with the ball as he scuffed his finish wide, but on the hour mark the teams were level again. Vormer played the ball to De Ketelaere, who flicked it towards Buchanan and the Canadian winger found Dost in front of goal who slotted home again - his second of the afternoon.
That goal was a boost for Club that upped the pressure on the hosts, but apart from a strike from Lang there wasn't too much to cheer for. Until the 80th minute. Mechele fired over the crossbar and on the other side of the pitch Carcela forced Mignolet into making a save. Five minutes before the end Carcela intercepted a poor pass in Club's defence, but before he could run towards Mignolet he was brought down by Hendry and the defender was sent off with a straight red card.
With the match drawing to the end both teams had one last huge chance to bag the three points. Carcela went past substitute Ricca, but Lestienne couldn't convert. The following effort from Nkounkou was blocked on the line by Mata, before it trickled wide. Club had one last good chance as well. De Ketelaere was alone in front of Bodart, but he decided to play it to Dost. Unfortunateley Bodart read the situation perfectly and intercepted the ball so it remained 2-2. On Thursday Club welcomes league leaders Union.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 23
Attendance: none – Stade Maurice Dufrasne (Sclessin)
Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Standard: Arnaud Bodart – Gilles Dewaele, Noë Dussenne, Konstantinos Laifis, Alexandro Calut - Aron Dønnum (75’ Mehdi Carcela-González), Damjan Pavlovic (65’ Samuel Bastien), Nicolas Raskin, Mathieu Cafaro (82’ Niels Nkounkou) – Renaud Emond (65’ Maxime Lestienne), Denis Dragus (65’ João Klauss).
Bench: Matthieu Epolo, João Klauss, Maxime Lestienne, Mehdi Carcela-González, Samuel Bastien, Niels Nkounkou, Ameen Al-Dakhil.
Coach: Luka Elsner
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Brandon Mechele, Jack Hendry, Stanley Nsoki (81’ Federico Ricca) - Clinton Mata, Mats Rits (46’ Tajon Buchanan), Ruud Vormer (c), Hans Vanaken – Noa Lang (85’ Ignace Van der Brempt), Charles De Ketelaere, Bas Dost.
Bench: Senne Lammens, Nick Shinton, Ignace Van der Brempt, Eduard Sobol, Federico Ricca, Éder Balanta, Lynnt Audoor, Kamal Sowah, Daniel Perez, Tajon Buchanan.
Coach: Alfred Schreuder.
Yellow cards: Dussenne, Rits, Emond
Red cards: Hendry
Goals: 10’ Cafaro (1-0), 40’ Dost (1-1), 48’ Emond (2-1), 59’ Dost (2-2)
Report: Tom Mannens
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