Union and Club Brugge share points after blistering topper!

Matchday 14 of the Jupiler Pro League featured the topper between Union and Club Brugge. After fifteen minutes Club had a double lead after goals by Skov Olsen and Vanaken. Union also had to continue with 10, but managed to connect before halftime through Burgess. In the end, Nieuwkoop headed the 2-2 final score on the board.

Blauw-Zwart recorded a clear victory against Sint-Truiden on Wednesday, so coach Hoefkens had little reason to make many changes to his team. Consequently, he left the defense and midfield unchanged, but the offensive compartment looked slightly different. Nusa and Yaremchuk made way for Skov Olsen and Jutglà, respectively. The home team made only one substitution: the suspended Van der Heyden was replaced by Sykes. For Nielsen it was a special match, as he looked his former team in the eye.

The topper could not have started better for Club! After only 29 seconds, Skov Olsen made space for himself in the box, only to fire the ball past Moris. Union systematically tried to recover from the early blow, but it took some time before Vanzeir could be sent deep. The angle was too sharp and his shot was a damper. In the preceding phase, Buchanan was pulled down in the sixteen by Adingra. After VAR intervention, the ball went on the dot and Vanaken provided the double lead. On top of that, the home team had to continue with 10, as Adingra received the red card for the penalty foul on Buchanan.

Consequently, Blue-Black was somewhat in a seat and now claimed the ball. Nielsen had some space to lay on from outside the sixteen, but his blast was blocked. Just after the half hour mark, the Dudenpark revived, as Burgess headed the tying goal into the net. Club was startled and Union continued to put pressure on. A cross from Teuma deflected off Jutglà and almost surprised Mignolet. Moments later, an enormous chance for Lynen followed, but Mignolet was again standing firm. There was also a flag for offside. The game was now well up and down as the visitors showed a reaction. Meijer brought the ball sharply in front of goal and Burgess was just able to clear before Jutglà could become dangerous. Blue-Black was thus not done with Union yet and we went to rest 1-2.

There were no substitutions at halftime and it was Union that created the first threat after 5 minutes. Lazare's deep ball for Boniface was luckily just too hard and Mignolet reacted alertly. A reaction from Club followed shortly after via Meijer who laid the ball backwards for Vanaken. The captain kicked immediately, but his shot swerved and went wide of the goal. The chances did remain for Club, but it was not Jutglà's night. First he ran straight at Moris and moments later he kicked in the sixteen from the turn via the opponent over goal.

This was followed by a period with several substitutions along both sides, which did not help the goal threat in the match. Around minute 75 Vanzeir tried his luck with a place ball from outside the box, but this posed no problem for Mignolet. Still, a good 10 minutes before the end, there was some gusto in the match. The ball was put in front of goal by Lapoussin and there Nieuwkoop headed the equalizer overhook against the nets. Blauw-Zwart had to recover from this blow, but tried to respond through Yaremchuk. On a cross from Sobol he got in front of his man, but his header went wide. A few minutes later it was Sowah who flicked the ball in front of goal, but Vanaken unfortunately got the ball the wrong way round.

It remained exciting until the end, but in the end no more goals were scored. Blue-Black failed to push through anymore and so the topper ended in a draw. Next Wednesday, all post up for the poster against Porto!

Jupiler Pro League - Day 14
Spectators: 9,400 - Joseph Marien Stadium
Referee: Kevin Van Damme
Union SG: Anthony Moris - Bart Nieuwkoop, Christian Burgess, Ross Sykes (25' Loïc Lapoussin), Ismaël Kandouss - Lazare Amani (74' Cameron Puertas), Teddy Teuma, Senne Lynen - Victor Boniface (75' Gustaf Nilsson), Simon Adingra, Dante Vanzeir (90+1' José Rodriguez).
Bank: Viktor Boone, José Rodriguez, Oussama El Azzouzi, Joachim Imbrechts, Guillaume François, Lucas Pirard, Cameron Puertas, Gustaf Nilsson, Arnaud Dony, Loïc Lapoussin.
Coach: Karel Geraerts.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele, Dedryck Boyata, Bjorn Meijer (59' Eduard Sobol) - Andreas Skov Olsen (64' Noa Lang), Casper Nielsen, Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken, Tajon Buchanan (81' Kamal Sowah)- Ferran Jutglà (64' Roman Yaremchuk).
Bench: Senne Lammens, Nick Shinton, Eduard Sobol, Jorne Spileers, Éder Balanta, Cisse Sandra, Noa Lang, Kamal Sowah, Antonio Nusa, Roman Yaremchuk.
Coach: Carl Hoefkens.

Yellow cards: Burgess, Moris, Lazare, Vanaken, Meijer, Nieuwkoop
Red cards: Adingra
Goals: 1' Skov Olsen (0-1), 16' Vanaken (0-2), 32' Burgess (1-2), 80' Nieuwkoop (2-2)