An emphatic 7-0 home win for Club Brugge against Sint-Truiden, with Christos Tzolis crowned as the match winner having scored four, while also Onyedika, Jashari and Vanaken found their way to the nets.
Nicky Hayen made three changes to the team that had drawn at Beerschot just before the international break. At the back, Spileers and De Cuyper replaced Ordóñez and Meijer (out injured), while on the right wing Talbi was preferred over Skov Olsen. Playing in the lone striker position, Vermant earned another start and the strikers took care of the first Bruges danger, but his shot was easily saved by goalkeeper Kokubo. Shortly before, STVV peeked as a Brahimi shot flew just over.
Blauw-Zwart constantly camped in Sint-Truiden's half, resulting in a logical lead after ten minutes. A solid interception by Seys found Vermant, teeing up Tzolis and the Greek took it in one go to put it past the keeper (1-0). The visitors tried to react, but got no further than a free kick from Bertaccini going wide off the wall. Halfway through the first half, Club doubled its lead as Onyedika's shot first ricocheted off the underside of the crossbar and back infield, where Tzolis was all too eager to head in the rebound.
The pace of the game dropped a bit, but shortly before halftime the hosts went in search of a third goal. A half-volley by Tzolis whizzed over the crossbar, while Kokubo pawed away a Jashari shot. Moments later, the goalkeeper had a fine reflex in store to deny Vermant's header. Ogawa wanted to clear the ball, but De Cuyper beat him to the ball, with the Japanese player bringing him down inside the box. Ref Vergoote did not hesitate and pointed towards the spot, where captain Vanaken handed the ball to Tzolis to allow him to complete his hat-trick (3-0).
After the break, the hosts simply continued their momentum, and after a beautiful through ball by Jashari, Talbi passed it to Tzolis, who delightfully swirled his fourth past the visiting goalie. A fifth goal soon followed, as Talbi laid it back to Onyedika, who curled the 5-0 perfectly into goal. Still before the hour mark it was even 6-0, as Ardon Jashari tucked it in.
The Canaries were completely outplayed, although they did create a few chances. Mignolet saved Ito's shot, Belaid's header went over the line and when Bertaccini did beat Mignolet, Nhaili was unable to capitalize on his return. Club kept the clean sheet and eventually managed to score a seventh through Hans Vanaken. In the closing stages of the game, Jutglà and Skov Olsen came close to adding an eighth goal, but without success. The visitors finally ended the match with a man down after Delpupo was sent off after harshly tackling Skóraś. Thanks to this victory and Antwerp's points loss, Club Brugge now moves into second place.
Jupiler Pro League - Match day 15
Attendance: 25,000- Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Jasper Vergoote
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Joaquin Seys (67' Kyriani Sabbe), Jorne Spileers, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper - Raphael Onyedika (58' Casper Nielsen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Chemsdine Talbi (76' Michał Skóraś), Romeo Vermant (67' Ferran Jutglà), Christos Tzolis (58' Andreas Skov Olsen). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero and Joel Ordóñez. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Sint-Truiden VV: Léo Kokubo - Louis Patris, Rein Van Helden, Zineddine Belaid, Bruno Godeau, Ryoya Ogawa (46' Ryotaro Ito) - Olivier Dumont (46' Robert-Jan Vanwesemael), Joel Chima Fujita, Bilal Brahimi (46' Isaias Delpupo) - Andrès Ferrari (59' Kahveh Zahiroleslam, 64' Adam Nhaili), Adriano Bertaccini. Coach: Felice Mazzu.
Yellow: Patris.
Red: 87' Delpupo.
Goals: 12' Tzolis (1-0), 22' Tzolis (2-0), 42' Tzolis (penalty, 3-0), 48' Tzolis (4-0), 51' Onyedika (5-0), 57' Jashari (6-0), 77' Vanaken (7-0).