Club Brugge came out victorious in The One It Had To Win against KRC Genk. A dominant Club seemed stuck to a goalless draw after visiting goalie Penders had proven vital with many fine save. It was only by the very end of the game that the hosts managed to break the deadlock from the spot as Maxim De Cuyper sent Jan Breydel reeling. A crucial win for Club, inching closer to Genk with just one point behind now.
Opting for the same Starting XI as in the previous Play Off encounters, coach Hayen set up Tzolis and Jutglà in support of lone forward Nilsson. The start of the game saw two commited sides, with Genk not keen on leaning back despite the four point separating the two teams at the top of the table. With high pressure, Club had trouble finding its way through the lines, and it came as no surprise to see the first chance of the game for the visitors as Bonsu Baah made it to the goal line, but his cross could not be capitalised on by Tolu.
Bit by bit, Club started clawing its way into the game, taking over control as first Tzolis' cracker whizzed past, and Jutglà's hard shot sailed over. The best chance came halfway through, as Tzolis effort seemed goalbound but was cleared away just in time by Sadick. Moments later Jutglà could not get a good touch to a fine corner kick, and Penders reacted well denying shots by Onyedika and Jashari.
Heading towards half time, the visitors suddenly came close to scoring too, but Tolu was unable to head in a cross/shot by Bonsu Baah. Time for Club to push the pedal to the metal again as Jashari surged through on goal but was blocked just in time, and it took an alert Pendes again to stretch and deny a solid Tzolis shot after De Cuyper had intercepted well to put the Greek in scoring position. Seconds later, the ball came to Sabbe after a clever studied corner kick, but the defender fired it juuuuuust wide.
The start of the second half did little in veiling Club's attacking intentions, as Onyedika first saw his cross cleared just before it came to Nilsson, Penders again had to go down quickly to slap away Sabbe's shot, and again shot was unlucky as his volley got blocked. Club remained in the driving seat, and more followed as an outstanding Penders again saved the day as Tzolis and Onyedika went their way, while Nilsson's slight touch to a Sabbe cross stumbled wide.
Genk was seeing stars, and visiting coach Fink reacted with a triple change, trying to secure that golden point, but Club kept on coming, eager for more and pushed on by a fiery home crowd. Penders again had a fine save in store to deny Jutglà, while a bit later Tzolis could not head it down enough to get that crucial opener. What had been coming for some time, finally arrived at the start of injury time: a scrimmage in front of goal saw two fouls, bringing down first Vermant and then Tzolis, leaving ref Laforge no choice but to point towards the spot, quickly confirmed by VAR. Maxim De Cuyper took up the ball, and fired it past Penders to finally make it 1-0. But it was not over yet, as an excruciating last couple of minutes first saw an excellent chance for Vermant to double the lead, but also a miss by Sattlberger heading it just wide after Penders had joined his team for a corner kick in a last-gasp effort to get that one point. 1-0 it was, and Jan Breydel erupted, helping Club to a crucial win taking it to just one point of leaders Genk.
Jupiler Pro League – Champions’ Play-offs: Matchday 3
Attendance: 29,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Nicolas Laforge
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Kyriani Sabbe (87’ Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (84’ Michał Skóraś), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Christos Tzolis, Gustaf Nilsson (63’ Chemsdine Talbi), Ferran Jutglà (84’ Romeo Vermant).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Zaid Romero, Hugo Vetlesen, Casper Nielsen and Lynnt Audoor.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
KRC Genk: Mike Penders – Zakaria El Ouahdi, Mujaid Sadick, Matte Smets, Joris Kayembe – Bryan Heynen, Ibrahima Bangoura (68’ Nikolas Sattlberger), Patrik Hrosovsky (68’ Konstantinos Karetsas) – Christopher Bonsu Baah, Arokodare Tolu (76’ Hyeon-Gyu Oh), Noah Adedeji Sternberg (68’ Yira Sor).
Coach: Thorsten Fink
Yellow: Heynen, Sabbe, Sattlberger, Sadick, Kayembe, Tzolis.
Red: none
Goal: 90+2’ De Cuyper (penalty, 1-0).