On match day 9 of the Jupiler Pro League, Club Brugge headed to the Stade du Pays to take on RSC Charleroi. Blauw-Zwart had the best chances in the first half, but failed to capitalize on them. In the second half, things did not look good for the Brugge players when Guiagon scored and moments later Onyedika picked up a red card. However, with a man down, Club managed to salvage a point in the absolute final minutes through Vanaken.
Blauw-Zwart had a somewhat bizarre last week. Both against Borussia Dortmund and KAA Gent, the Brugge players had the better of the game and enough chances to score several times. However, the latter was omitted and so they still lost twice. However, Coach Hayen continued to opt for stability and put the same eleven base players on his sheet for the confrontation with Charleroi. At the Carolos, the most familiar name to Club fans was along the sidelines. Coach Rik De Mil also made no changes to his starting eleven compared to the draw against Anderlecht.
It was Club that immediately went on the attack and in the opening minutes, it already secured a corner kick. The first goal threat did come from Charleroi through Dragsnes. The left back was able to strike in the box, but his shot hit Mechele's body. Furthermore, the first quarter of an hour was fairly short: both teams kept each other in balance, but there was no concrete goal threat. The biggest chance for Blauw-Zwart was on the quarter hour mark. Skov Olsen passed the ball to Tzolis, who accelerated well. His low cross was also excellent for Nilsson, but the Swede missed his attempt somewhat and the ball went wide. The home side mainly looked for Heymans through crosses, but so far without success.
For the visitors, it was mainly Tzolis who was sought after and the Greek was also responsible for the next goal attempt. Mechele played from the flank centrally to Vanaken and the captain cleverly let run for Tzolis. The latter had time to lay on and popped hard towards goal, but Koné spectacularly floated the leather out of his goal. About ten minutes later, Charleroi's goalie showed himself once again to prevent a deficit. A deflected shot by Nilsson came into the feet of Tzolis, who immediately laid back smartly for the better-positioned Vanaken. The latter actually did everything right and tried to put the ball away with an inside foot in the far corner, but Koné had a good reaction to keep the leather out of his cage. Moments later, Seys was also allowed to try after a good combination with Skov Olsen, but the young right back could not frame his attempt from close range. Thus we ended up resting without goals....
The second half started with the same 22 names on the field and, just like the first half, Charleroi quickly created the first goal threat. Camara got the ball outside the sixteen and immediately kicked towards goal. Mignolet did not allow himself to be surprised and boxed the leather away. A few minutes later, however, it was prize for the Carolos. Bernier pushed forward on the flank and served Guiagon in the penalty area. The latter did not hesitate and outsmarted Mignolet with a crafty ball over Club's goalkeeper. The reaction of the visitors was not long in coming and in doing so it was again Tzolis who caused danger. The Greek targeted the shortest corner, but his effort landed on the wrong side of the post. The dire situation for Blauw-Zwart did not improve, because moments later the Brugge players also had to continue with ten. Onyedika went too wild in his tackle on Guiagon and was immediately shown the (stern) red card by ref Verboomen. Despite the numerical minority, Club went in search of the equalizer. De Cuyper was played the ball by Tzolis and the left back was then able to strike from a sharp angle. Koné, however, went flat and did not allow himself to be surprised.
Club coach Hayen intervened with a double substitution, bringing in Vermant and Nielsen. That did not have an immediate effect, as it was Charleroi that retook control of the game. Guiagon remained a scourge for the Bruges defense and eventually Bernier headed a deflected shot by Heymans over goal. The 2-0 was closer than the equalizer at this stage of the match, but fortunately Mignolet was playing strong goalkeeping. First, he had a good reflex on a close-range effort by Dabbagh and shortly afterwards Club's goalie went down well on a shot by Guiagon. Nicky Hayen tried to pull out all the stops by bringing in Skóraś and Sabbe, but it was mainly Blauw-Zwart who escaped the deathblow. During a fast break, Mbenza played a perfect pass to Dabbagh, but Mignolet pulled the effort out of his goal in the end. A few minutes later, it was the visitors who were unlucky. The Caroloans' defense could not get rid of the ball, allowing Mechele to kick at goal twice, but his shot deflected off the post.
Five minutes were replayed and in it Club still managed to equalize. De Cuyper pushed forward well and put the ball in front of goal and Ousou headed the leather into the feet of Vanaken. The captain did not hesitate and immediately kicked towards goal. The shot deflected off Nzita and goalkeeper Koné was spotted. Blauw-Zwart managed to get a point under difficult circumstances.
Jupiler Pro League - Day 9
Spectators: 15,000 - Stade du Pays de Charleroi
Referee: Nathan Verboomen
RSC Charleroi: Mohamed Koné - Jeremy Petris, Aiham Ousou, Stelios Andreou, Vetle Dragsnes - Étienne Camara, Adem Zorgane, Daan Heymans - Parfait Guiagon (84' Isaac Mbenza), Grejohn Kyei (67' Oday Dabbagh), Antoine Bernier (84' Alexis Flips).
Bench: Théo Defourny, Check Keita, Zan Rogelj, Yassine Titraoui, Mardochée Nzita, Isaac Mbenza, Alexis Flips, Youssuf Sylla, Oday Dabbagh.
Coach: Rik De Mil.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (82' Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Joel Ordóñez (82' Michał Skóraś), Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika, Hugo Vetlesen (66' Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Andreas Skov Olsen (66' Romeo Vermant), Gustaf Nilsson, Christos Tzolis (88' Chemsdine Talbi).
Bank: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Kyriani Sabbe, Ardon Jashari, Casper Nielsen, Chemsdine Talbi, Michał Skóraś, Ferran Jutglà, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Andreou, Heymans, Guiagon, Vermant
Red cards: Onyedika
Goals: 48' Guiagon (1-0), 90+1' Vanaken (1-1)