Club Brugge cruises on to the Conference League Round of 16 after a 3-1 home victory against Bodø/Glimt. Antonio Nusa's first half opener was canceled out by the Norwegians after a second-half spot kick, but Igor Thiago put Club in front within the minute. Heading in Club's third, Brandon Mechele put the result beyond doubt.
Four changes to Ronny Deila's team that had drawn at Mechelen on the weekend: in the back Ordóñez and Meijer came on for Spileers and Buchanan, allowing De Cuyper a spot on the right wing. In attack, Thiago had Skov Olsen and Nusa as his wingmen, referring Jutglà and Zinckernagel to the bench.
To maintain its chances on winning the group, Bodø/Glimt absolutely needed a win, and their first attempt at causing a stir came through Žugelj, seeing his shot pawed away by Mignolet. It proved a boost to Club, gearing up as Vanaken's cross could not find Thiago, shots by Thiago and Nusa went wide, and Nielsen saw his volley blocked. A constant threat, Skov Olsen came close to opening the score twice, first with a cracker going wide, and a bit later on seeing his low shot go just that teeny tiny bit wide. On the other side of the pitch, Mignolet eagerly got his hands to Berg's shot.
The opener took some time coming, but it was Antonio Nusa who put Club in front, launched by Skov Olsen on the left wing, and cannonballing it in to make it 1-0. Despite Club now clearly lowering the pace of the game, the visitors had all the trouble in the world getting through the Club organisation and it was the hosts that came closest to adding another one to their tally: Vanaken's header upon a De Cuyper corner kick was goalbound, but goalkeeper Lund got a hand to it to tap it over. A bit later Thiago found the back of the nets, heading in another De Cuyper cross, but the goal was cancelled out due to off-side.
The break proved no hamper on Club's intentions, and Deila's troops kept going for that second, with Thiago's firing shot ending up in the side netting, and a Skov Olsen deflected shot going just wide. Not yet ready to give up, the visitors also headed forward, and it took a fine foot reflex by Mignolet to keep Žugelj from the equaliser. The Norwegians were thrown a lifeline, however, as VAR had spotted Mechele tripping Brunstad Fet in the time leading up to that chance. Spot kick for the visitors, Pellegrino sending Mignolet the wrong way, and 1-1: all to play for!
Club's attacking prowess decided differently, though. A great right wing combination ended up with De Cuyper, pulling back to meet Thiago tapping in the 2-1, literally seconds after that equaliser. Leaving the ball to Bodo more now, Club saw how Berg's shot went high over, and how Mignolet produced saves to keep Club on the right track.
Salvation finally came in the dying minutes of the game: a razor sharp Skóraś corner kick was headed in by Brandon Mechele by the first post, making it 3-1 for Club, securing the group win, and a spot in the draw for the Conference League Round of 16, scheduled in February.
UEFA Europa Conference League - Match Day 6
Audience: 15,835 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Anastasios Papapetrou (Gri)
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Maxim De Cuyper (71’ Denis Odoi), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer – Hugo Vetlesen, Casper Nielsen (60’ Raphael Onyedika), Hans Vanaken – Andreas Skov Olsen (88’ Philip Zinckernagel), Igor Thiago (71’ Ferran Jutglà), Antonio Nusa (60’ Michał Skóraś). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Tajon Buchanan, Dedryck Boyata, Éder Balanta and Jorne Spileers. Coach: Ronny Deila.
FK Bodø/Glimt: Julian Faye Lund – Brice Wembangomo (85’ Fredrik Sjøvold), Brede Moe (46’ Isak Amundsen), Odin Bjørtuft, Fredrik André Bjørkan – Sondre Brunstad Fet, Patrick Berg, Albert Grønbæk (85’ Ulrik Saltnes) – Nino Žugelj (72’ Tobias Gulliksen), Oscar Kapskarmo (72’ Faris Moumbagna), Amahl Pellegrino. Coach: Kjetil Knutsen
Yellow: Kapskarmo, Moe, Amundsen, Mechele, Skov Olsen, Odoi.
Red: none
Goals: 26’ Nusa (1-0), 57’ Pellegrino (penalty, 1-1), 58’ Thiago (2-1), 89’ Mechele (3-1).
