Club enters the international break with one point after the draw with Beerschot on matchday 14 of the Jupiler Pro League. Blauw-Zwart went out flying with two goals inside the first fifteen minutes through Vermant and Seys, but a second-half Al-Sahafi brace meant a share of the spoils.
Blauw-Zwart were still buzzing from Wednesday's Champions League win over Aston Villa when coach Hayen's team traveled to Antwerp to play bottom of the league Beerschot. Given the busy schedule, Hayen made a couple of changes to his starting eleven: Meijer played as left-back, Vermant spearheaded the attack and Onyedika reclaimed his position in midfield. De Cuyper, Jutglà and Nielsen had to settle for the substitutes' bench.
The match could not have started any better for Club who opened the scoring after just three minutes. Meijer latched on to a Jashari through ball and saw his first time low cross flicked in by Vermant. After a VAR check for a possible offside position from Meijer, the goal was given. Ten minutes later Vermant was dangerous again when he was quick to react on a cross from an acute angle, but goalkeeper Shinton clawed away his effort.
Club dominated and doubled the lead after fifteen minutes play. It was again Meijer with the assist. This time he was played in by Vanaken, and the Dutchman picked out Seys who sidefooted it in. Beerschot carried little threat in front of goal, apart from their setpieces. When Mbe Soh was found at the far post, the Frenchman brought the ball in front of goal, but there were no teammates.
Beerschot found their feet again halfway the first half. Verlinden's free-kick was on target, but too tame to trouble Mignolet. A few moments later Club's No. 1 was tested by Al-Sahafi who's low strike needed to be tipped around the far post. Al-Sahafi was the most industrious man for the home side with two more efforts that missed the target. Just before the half-time whistle Club were at the other side of the pitch again, but a cross towards Vermant was just too powerful for the 20-year-old.
Hayen sent out the same eleven players for the second half who immediately had the upper hand. Tzolis saw his shot take a deflection on a defender before it looped over the crossbar and on that resulting corner Meijer had a great chance to make it three, but he missed from closeby. Beerschot punished Club for that miss five minutes later when Al-Sahafi beat the offside trap, rounded Mignolet and slotted home to half the deficit. Just two minutes later the Saudi Arabian scored a second time when he flashed past Mechele before drilling it in past Mignolet.
Coach Hayen responded by making a double substitution: Spileers and Skóraś came on for Ordóñez and Skov Olsen. But at this point in the game it was Beerschot that dominated most of the possession. Konstantopoulos unleashed a fierce strike from outside the penalty area, but Mignolet pulled off a great save to keep it out.
Halfway the second half Club restored the balance again and created a couple of half chances. Vanaken roses highest to meet with a corner kick, but it fell straight into the arms of Shinton. Two minutes later the Beerschot glovesman had more difficulties with an effort from Meijer, but he collected the ball just before the goalline. The next ten minutes in the match were marked mainly by several substitutions and fouls in which several players needed care. Seys was forced into leaving the pitch early as he limped off.
There were eight minutes of added time in which Club continued to press for a late winner. Sabbe tried it with a controlled volley, but he failed to get it on target. Onyedika tried his luck with a long-range effort but that sailed over and wide of the target. The last chance was for Tzolis when the Greek winger turned away from his marker, but then skied his finish.
Club couldn't get a late goal and had to settle for a point after having been 0-2 up.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 14
Attendance: 12.771 – Het Kiel
Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Beerschot VA: Nick Shinton – Apostolos Konstantopoulos, Loïc Mbe Soh, Omar Fayed, Brain Plat – Colin Dagba (78’ Charly Keita), Faisal Al-Ghamdi, Dean Huiberts (46’ Ewan Henderson), Thibaud Verlinden (77’ Tom Reyners) – Marwan Al-Sahafi (87’ Ar’jany Martha), Antoine Colassin (90+7’ Ayouba Kosiah).
Bench: Davor Matijas, Tom Reyners, Ewan Henderson, Ayouba Kosiah, Florian Krüger, Xander Joosen, Charly Keita, Ar’jany Martha, Félix Nzouango.
Coach: Dirk Kuyt.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys (75’ Kyriani Sabbe), Brandon Mechele, Joel Ordóñez (57’ Jorne Spileers), Bjorn Meijer – Raphael Onyedika, Ardon Jashari (90’ Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen (57’ Michał Skóraś), Romeo Vermant (75’ Ferran Jutglà), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Hugo Siquet, Michał Skóraś, Jorne Spileers, Maxim De Cuyper, Casper Nielsen, Hugo Vetlesen, Kyriani Sabbe, Ferran Jutglà.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow cards: Ordóñez, Tzolis, Mechele, Huiberts
Red cards: none
Goals: 3’ Vermant (0-1), 14’ Seys (0-2), 52’ Al-Sahafi (1-2), 55’ Al-Sahafi (2-2)