Match Day 8 in the Jupiler Pro League brought us the so-called ‘Battle for Flanders’ setting up Club Brugge with KAA Gent. Despite a plethora of opportunities for Club in the first half, the score was at 0-2 at half-time, goals by Dean and an own-goal by Ordóñez. An early 0-3 by Gandelman was quickly followed up by Skov Olsen, but hopes were quickly erased when Gandelman scored again. Nilsson's 2-4 was all that was in it still for Club.
Even if last Wednesday's encounter with Borussia Dortmund ended in a bitter 0-3 defeat, Club had put in a very solid performance, so coach Hayen saw no reason to make too many changes to his Starting XI. At Gent, no room for skipper Kums, not entirely fit to battle it out in Bruges.
From the word Go, Club demanded possession, and the first of many chances soon followed. Nilsson with the fine pressure allowing Skov Olsen to push on, but unfortunately his low cross was unable to reach a team mate. Club kept pushing and as De Cuyper played a corner kick low towards Seys, the latter saw his shot deviated by Mechele against the crossbar. Moments later, De Cuyper produced a great through-ball to Nilsson, neatly taking it in his stride, but finding Roef on his way. The leather came to Skov Olsen in the rebound, but his attempt missed target. Next, Mignolet's long ball found Skov Olsen on the wing, and the Dane saw Vanaken infiltrate, but once again Roef saved the day upon the skipper's low shot. A bit later, Tzolis had a shot, but he also missed from close range, seeing Roef on his path with another excellent save.
To the despair of the home fans, Roef remained pivotal in Ghent's shaking defense, this time stretching as Vetlesen placed it towards the far corner. A few minutes later, Skov Olsen tried from just outside the box, but his curled shot went over. Thirty minutes in, De Cuyper found Nilsson upon a corner kick, but the latter was unable to get a good touch to it. The same went for Tzolis' header upon a solid Skov Olsen cross. In the meantime, Mignolet was allowed to sit back as Ghent proved unable to push forward. All of a sudden, however, the visitors took the lead from their very first opportunity. Surdez with the through-ball to Dean, who managed to tuck it in off the post past Mignomet. Not that this changed too much, however, as Club kept dictating the game. A Seys cross shot through, but again Roef reacted quickly, and Ghent's goalie was also served with a bout of luck as Nilsson was unbalanced as he tried for the rebound. Much to everyone's surprise Ghent scored a second at the brink of half time. Fadiga making his way on the left wing, trying his luck from an acute angle and seeing the ball come off the post and crash into Ordóñez into goal. In complete control, and having created so many chances, but still 0-2 down: not what Club had been hoping for at half-time.
The second half saw one change to both teams: Jashari for Vetlesen, and Samoise for Fadiga. Those who rejoined the game a bit too late, missed out on the next goal however, and again it was Ghent scoring: Brown pushing forward on th eleft, finding Gandelman with a 45, who fired it in past Mignolet. Club was still not taken aback, reacting immediately as Nilsson prolonged a long ball and sending Skov Olsen eye-to-eye with Roef. This time the Dane kept his cool, making it 1-3. The goal came as a boost, and Club smelled blood: Nilsson with the team-up with Skov Olsen, ending in a firm low cross in front of goal where De Cuyper waited to make it 2-3, but unfortunately he missed from very close range. And as was to be expected, Club received another blow straight after. Gudjohnsen, just in, pushing through, keeping Mechele at bay, and setting up Gandelman with impeccable timing. 1-4, and again Club did not wait long to strike back. Skov Olsen's shot from long range was first fumbled over by Roef, but a bit later Tzolis' found Nilsson in front of goal, sliding it below Roef to make it 2-4. Club tried shaking things up with a reshuffle, but the Buffalos were lined up well, keeping the hosts from creating much more danger.
The eight minutes of added time went by ceremoniously, so after an extremely dominant game in which Club just could not capitalise on the many chances it created, AA Gent came out on top, trumping Club in efficiency.
Jupiler
Pro League – Match day 8
Audience: 29,042
– Jan
Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Nicolas
Laforge
ClubBrugge: Simon
Mignolet – Joaquin Seys
(83’ Chemsdine Talbi),
Brandon Mechele, Joel
Ordóñez, Maxim
De Cuyper – Raphael
Onyedika (58’ Ferran
Jutglà), Hugo
Vetlesen (46’ Ardon
Jashari), Hans Vanaken –
Andreas Skov Olsen, Gustaf Nilsson (71’
Michał
Skóraś),
Christos Tzolis (71’
Romeo Vermant).
Bench:
Nordin Jackers, Axl De Corte,
Zaid Romero, Ferran Jutglà,
Romeo Vermant, Michał
Skóraś, Casper
Nielsen, Ardon Jashari, Hugo
Siquet, Kyriani
Sabbe, Chemsdine Talbi.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
KAA
Gent: Davy
Roef – Tsuyoshi Watanabe, Stefan
Mitrović,
Jordan Torunarigha – Noah Fadiga (46’
Matisse Samoise),
Omri Gandelman, Atsuki Ito (83’
Tiago Araújo) ,
Mathias Delorge, Archie Brown (83’
Núrio Fortuna)
– Franck Surdez (73’
Pieter Gerkens),
Max Dean (62’
Andri Gudjohnsen).
Bench: Daniel Schmidt, Zalan Vancsa, Pieter Gerkens, Andri
Gudjohnsen, Matisse Samoise, Tiago Araújo, Núrio Fortuna, Tibe De
Vlieger, Hélio Varela.
Coach:
Wouter Vrancken.
Yellow: Ito,
Vetlesen, Dean,
Nilsson, Samoise,
Delorge, De Cuyper, Araújo
Red: none
Goals: 40’
Dean (0-1), 44’ Ordóñez
(OG) (0-2), 47’ Gandelman
(0-3), 48’ Skov Olsen (1-3), 64’
Gandelman (1-4), 70’
Nilsson (2-4)