Blauw-Zwart hosted Genk on matchday 5 of the Champions' Play-Offs. The visitors started the match best with an early goal through Paintsil, but after the break Vanaken headed in to equalize. In the last fifteen minutes of Club's last home match of the season, Genk secured the three points with a goal by Hrosovsky and a second from Paintsil.
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Blauw-Zwart suffers 1-3 defeat against KRC Genk
Following last week's well-deserved win against Antwerp, coach De Mil normally had little reason to change a lot about his starting eleven. However, by necessity he was forced to make four changes. Mata, Yaremchuk and Sylla were not match fit, Lang was suspended. Hendry, Nielsen, Vermant and Nusa were given the nod. For the visitors from Genk, there were no changes in the eleven.
Genk started the game lively, hogging the ball and creating a first chance when Muñoz latched onto Heynen's through ball, but the Colombian head it wide. Club's response was swift. Vermant was sent through on goal and the youngster fired it at goal, only to see Vandevoordt tip his effort against the bar with a brilliant reflex. Instead of Vermant opening the score, it was Genk when Arokadare deflected a cross with his head into the feet of Paintsil and he sidefooted it past Mignolet. A few minutes later Mignolet kept Club in the game with a wondeful reflex save on a deflection by Paintsil.
Genk kept the pressure on with chances via Sor and Muñoz, but Club started to tip the balance as the first time went on. First an effort by Meijer was blocked, a few minutes later the Dutchman's cross ended up in front of Rits who got the ball past Vandevoordt, but Arteaga cleared it on the goalline. Towards the end of the first half, the match got sloppy but eventually Club tried to level it before the half-time break. A cross by Vanaken was fisted away by Vandevoordt in extremis and Onyedika's effort went over over the crossbar.
The second half started with one change at each side: Buchanan replaced Meijer and Samatta came on for Arokadare. This time it was Blauw-Zwart that commanded the pace of the game and quickly created a good chance via Nusa, but the Norwegian slammed it over the goal. Just under ten minutes of play a smooth attacking move via Odoi, Vermant and Buchanan ended up with Buchanan poking the ball just wide of the far post with the outside of his boot. Club kept the pressure on. Nusa curled an effort towards the far corner, but Vandevoordt's outstretched arms tipped it around the post.
Genk marked their first chance of the second, just past the hour when substitute El Khannouss stung Mignolet's fists. It was the sign for Club to go on the offensive again. And this time it payed off. Vanaken rose highest to meet the ball on a corner kick and he headed in the well-deserved equalizer.
Club kept pushing via an industrious Nusa, but he was unlucky in front of goal. This time his curling effort flew over the bar. Nielsen tried his luck as well, but his half-volley missed the right direction. With ten minutes on the clock it was Genk that, out of nowhere, took the lead again. Samatta missed the ball first, but Hrosovsky was able to beat Mignolet in two tries. Blauw-Zwart didn't recover from this setback and Genk killed the game with a second goal from Paintsil. He slipped through the defence and kept his nerve face-to-face with Mignolet.
Club did try to cut the arrears, but Vermant failed to get the ball past Vandevoordt.
In stoppage time both sides had a chance via Odoi and El Khannous, but both couldn't get the ball against the back of the net. Rits did, but his goal was disallowed for offside. And so the game ends 1-3. Next week three teams battle for the title.
Champions’ Play-Offs – Matchday 5
Attendance: 29.042 – Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Lawrence Visser
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Denis Odoi, Brandon Mechele, Jack Hendry, Bjorn Meijer (46’ Tajon Buchanan) – Raphael Onyedika (89’ Shion Homma), Casper Nielsen, Hans Vanaken, Mats Rits - Antonio Nusa (83’ Chemsdine Talbi), Romeo Vermant (89’ Cisse Sandra).
Bench: Josef Bursik, Nick Shinton, Kyriani Sabbe, Tajon Buchanan, Kamal Sowah, Shion Homma, Chemsdine Talbi, Cisse Sandra.
Coach: Rik De Mil.
KRC Genk: Maarten Vandevoordt – Daniel Muñoz, Mark McKenzie, Carlos Cuesta, Gerardo Arteaga – Joseph Paintsil, Bryan Heynen (72’ Aziz Ouatarra), Mike Trésor (83’ Ángelo Preciado), Patrik Hrosovsky, Yira Sor (61’ Bilal El Khannouss) - Tolu Arokodare (46’ Mbwana Ally Samatta).
Bench: Vic Chambaere, Tobe Leysen, Mujaid Sadick, Aziz Ouatarra, Mbwana Ally Samatta, Anouar Ait El Hadj, Rasmus Carstensen, Luca Oyen, Bilal El Khannouss, Ángelo Preciado.
Coach: Wouter Vrancken.
Yellow cards: Odoi, Paintsil
Red cards: none
Goals: 12’ Paintsil (0-1), 64’ Vanaken (1-1), 81’ Hrosovsky (1-2), 86’ Paintsil (1-3)