A 1-1 draw was all that was in it for Club Brugge against Union on Sunday. Club was in the driving seat for the majority of the game, with the best chances to score, but conceded the opener in the second half through Ivanovic. With ten minutes on the clock, Brandon Mechele headed in the well-deserved equaliser.
Three personnel changes in Nicky Hayen's line-up that had been so successful on Wednesday in the Champions League. In the back, Zaid Romero came on for Joel Ordóñez, while in midfield Hugo Vetlesen reclaimed his place a the expense of the suspended Onyedika. No Andreas Skov Olsen either, as Michał Skóraś was given the nod. With Gustaf Nilsson still out injured, Ferran Jutglà maintained his place in the Starting XI.
The two teams had featured in Europe just a few days ago, but managed to harness enough energy to make it a high-intensity game with lots of commitment and high pressure. This proved a hamper on the offensive players, and the crowd was not witness to too many chances. Both teams lurked for that one error in the back, which they both almost did: Vanaken, however, could not make the most of a Burgess fumble, while on the other side of the pitch Mignolet was all too eager to deny Fuseini after Romero slipped up.
The two teams were in balance, but it was a great combination on the left wing for Club that really should have been the opener: Jashari was sent through on the left, producing an excellent low pass towards Skóraś by the far post, but the latter clumsily aimed wide of target. On the other side of the pitch, Sadiki tried his luck twice, but was unable to unsettle Mignolet. Just before half time, Tzolis seemed to be brought down inside the box, but both ref Lambrechts and VAR De Cremer wouldn't hear of it. Straight after, Vanaken took a Tzolis cross in one go, but found Moris on his way.
The second half also started with Bruges attacking intentions, and the hosts came very close to score on three occasions: first Jutglà saw his effort cleared from the goal line, a bit later MacAllister was able to clear Tzolis' shot, and finally Moris was also called into action as he pawed away De Cuyper's effort from just below the crossbar. But as often goes in football, the goal fell on the other end: Franjo Ivanovic with a great brainwave to get past the Club defense, calmly tapping it in past Mignolet to make it 0-1 against the run of play.
Club tried brushing off, but Jutglà aimed his header straight at Moris, and Romero's shot went well wide. Bringing on Skov Olsen and Talbi, Nicky Hayen hoped to stir things up, and Skov Olsen seemed to have immediate impact as his cross was handled by Burgess inside the box, but again the ref waved play on. Moments later the Dane pushed on well on the right to find the goal line, but his cross went past each and everyone. With fifteen minutes to go, Tzolis deviated a De Cuyper cross just wide.
Another one of those days, one would think, but with just ten minutes on the clock, Jashari's great corner kick found Brandon Mechele by the first post, heading in the 1-1 past a motionless Moris. Club now kept pushing, leaving the visitors room on the break, which called for an alert Mignolet to first deny Ivanovic' shot with a fine stretch, and a solid save to thwart Terho's efforts in the dying minutes of the game. Another draw, another point for Club.
Jupiler Pro League – Match Day 10
Audience: 26,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Erik Lambrechts
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys, Brandon Mechele, Zaid Romero (77’ Jorne Spileers), Maxim De Cuyper (77’ Kyriani Sabbe) – Hugo Vetlesen (62’ Andreas Skov Olsen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken – Michał Skóraś, Ferran Jutglà (62’ Chemsdine Talbi), Christos Tzolis. Bench: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Joel Ordóñez, Hugo Siquet en Lynnt Audoor. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Union Saint-Gilloise: Anthony Moris – Kevin MacAllister, Christian Burgess, Koki Machida – Alessio Castro-Montes, Charles Vanhoutte, Noah Sadiki (89’ Kamiel Van de Perre), Mathias Rasmussen (46’ Lazare Amani), Ousseynou Niang (62’ Casper Terho) – Franjo Ivanovic, Mohammed Fuseini (74’ Kevin Rodriguez). Coach: Sébastien Pocognoli.
Yellow: Castro-Montes, Fuseini, Niang, Ivanovic, MacAllister, Jashari, Lazare.
Red: none
Goals: 52’ Ivanovic (0-1), 82’ Mechele (1-1).