On match day 6 of the Champions' Playoffs, Club Brugge traveled with confidence to Limburg to take on KRC Genk again. Club took the lead in the first half thanks to Sabbe, who also gave the assist for Vetlesen's goal in the second half. The final chord was for Thiago, who recorded the 0-3 final score with his head. The win streak continues and so to Florence with confidence!
Blauw-Zwart convincingly beat KRC Genk 4-0 at home last Wednesday and is undeniably in a good flow. Given the rapid succession of matches, interim coach Hayen thought it was advisable to rotate the team. There were three changes in the Bruges starting line-up for the return game, one in each line-up. Meijer got his chance at left back at the expense of De Cuyper and in midfield Vetlesen was chosen instead of Odoi. Finally, Jutglà also had to settle for a place on the bench in favor of Nusa. The home team made only one change: Fadera disappeared to the bench and Kayembe was his replacement.
It was the Limburgers who claimed the ball in the opening minutes, but Club was well organized so there was initially no goal threat to note. After five minutes, however, there was a first stir, as a great chance fell on both sides. Skóraś put the ball well in front of goal where Thiago headed to the ground and so Nusa had an even better opportunity to head on goal. The Norwegian attempted to head overhook, but the leather unfortunately went over goal. Soon after, Genk also stuck its nose to the window through El Oahdi who dribbled his way through the defense in the sixteen and then pointed the ball past the far post with his left. A few minutes later, Tolu went for his chance from distance, but his volley went well wide of Jackers' goal. It was clear that the home team was drawing from a different keg in the opening quarter than they did last Wednesday, and Club struggled to keep the ball in the team.
Halfway through the first half Club was gradually able to restore some balance and this resulted in a nice deep ball from Vanaken for Meijer. The latter delivered well in front of goal, but unfortunately Thiago could not deviate the leather. From the replay, Meijer did appear to be offside, so any goal was perhaps going to be disallowed. On the half hour Skóraś dribbled cleverly between two defenders and then Vanaken found Thiago in the sixteen with a crafty ball. However, the Brazilian was unable to head sufficiently in dueling with Sadick, allowing Vandevoordt to easily catch. Genk's reaction was not long in coming, as five minutes later El Khannouss received the ball played wide by Tolu and the Moroccan playmaker crossed low to the edge of the sixteen where Hrosovsky was able to strike. The latter fortunately could not frame his shot. Moments later, the nets vibrated for the first time! Sabbe brought the ball in front of goal and saw the leather hit the nets in the far corner. McKenzie in fact decided not to head the harmless cross away and thus surprised his own goalkeeper. The home side tried to respond quickly with a shot from El Hadj, but his effort was too central to trouble Jackers. Thus, we went to rest with a small lead....
At the start of the second half, interim coach Hayen made one change to his team: Nusa had a difficult first half and was replaced by Jutglà. Unlike the beginning of the match, this time it was Blauw-Zwart that started most convincingly. Yet it was Jackers who first had to show his ability on an attempt in the short corner by El Khannouss. Club's goalie went down excellently and quickly to prevent the equalizer. The visitors from Bruges remained well organized though and so Genk failed to really create many big opportunities. The just-introduced Zeqiri was able to push through in the sixteen, but his cracked shot posed no problem for Jackers. Midway through the second half, it was Blauw-Zwart that was able to double the score. Sabbe was just able to keep the ball in play on the sideline and then trumped McKenzie at speed before laying back perfectly into the run of Vetlesen. The Norwegian stayed calm and put the leather away nicely in the far corner.
The visitors from Bruges continued their positive momentum and a few minutes after the 0-2, they could celebrate again. Onyedika played deep for Vetlesen, who was able to serve Thiago in the air. The Brazilian striker seemed to have recovered his torinstinct, because he did not hesitate to head the third goal past Vandevoordt. The Bruges fans who had travelled along were now cooing with delight, as the match had been played. Coach Hayen had the opportunity to give several players some extra rest and made several substitutions. The home team went in search of an honorary goal, but Zeqiri was unlucky in his finishing touch when a header from close range hit the post.
An extra 6 minutes were played and in it Genk could threaten one more time. The substitute Bangoura tried his luck from long range, but Jackers did not have to intervene anymore. The score didn't change and so Club keeps on stringing together victories in these Champions' Play-offs. Now to Florence on Thursday with confidence to take on Fiorentina!
Jupiler Pro League - Champions' Play-offs: Playday 6
Spectators: 23.718 - Cegeka Arena
Referee: Lawrence Visser
KRC Genk: Maarten Vandevoordt - Mujaid Sadick, Carlos Cuesta, Mark McKenzie - Zakaria El Ouahdi (75' Alieu Fadera), Matías Galarza, Patrik Hrosovsky (75' Ibrahima Sory Bangoura), Joris Kayembe - Bilal El Khannouss (88' Noah Adedeji-Sternberg), Tolu Arokodare (64' Andi Zeqiri), Anouar Ait El Hadj (75' Christopher Bonsu Baah).
Bank: Mike Penders, Eduard Sobol, Ken Nkuba, Thomas Claes, Josue Kongolo, Alieu Fadera, Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, Andi Zeqiri, Christopher Bonsu Baah, Noah Adedeji-Sternberg.
Coach: Wouter Vrancken.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe (79' Maxim De Cuyper), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer - Raphael Onyedika (85' Philip Zinckernagel), Hugo Vetlesen (79' Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken - Michał Skóraś (62' Denis Odoi), Igor Thiago, Antonio Nusa (46' Ferran Jutglà).
Bank: Simon Mignolet, Josef Bursik, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper, Denis Odoi, Éder Balanta, Casper Nielsen, Philip Zinckernagel, Andreas Skov Olsen, Ferran Jutglà.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Cuesta, Vetlesen, Nielsen
Red cards: none
Goals: 38' Sabbe (0-1), 67' Vetlesen (0-2), 71' Thiago (0-3)
