Union still had a bone to pick with Club Brugge. Two seasons in a row, the people of Bruges shot the Brussels title dream to pieces. The trauma of last season on the final day of the Champions’ Play-offs in particular was still fresh in Union’s memory.
Union sensation Amoura Mohamed was allowed to start again and the Algerian thanked him for that halfway through the first half with a wonderful goal. Puertas beat Balanta to a cross from Ayensa and headed the ball across the goal. With a wonderful retro, Amoura left Mignolet without a chance: 1-0.
Club had only been able to threaten with a weak shot from Nielsen and completely collapsed after the opening goal. On the half hour, the visitors escaped 2-0 when Amoura unleashed his devils once again. Mignolet was just able to parry his shot, Spileers eventually cleared the ball in front of the goal line.
Only in extra time did Club make another squeak. Meijer went down in the box after a push from Vanhoutte and claimed a penalty. There was nothing wrong, referee Vergoote thought, and the VAR also thought so.
No improvement for Club at the start of the second half, Union remained lord and master. Puertas came close to making it 2-0 shortly after half-time on a pass from star Amoura, but narrowly decided to score the goal.
The start of a series of opportunities for the home team. Simon Mignolet had to keep Club upright three times. The goalkeeper parried a long shot from Lapoussin, pushed a free kick from Puertas just over goal and also stood right on a shot from Castro-Montes. In between, Lazare headed narrowly wide.
But just as the 2-0 was in the air, Club struck out of nowhere. Maxim De Cuyper was lost from sight and on a pass from Skov Olsen, the substitute curled the equalizer into the far corner. Union was left stunned.
Union did not remain complacent for long. Less than 10 minutes after the equalizer, the home team took the lead again. Rodriguez was barely on the field when he launched Amoura after a miss from Vetlesen. He quickly put Mechele in the wind, rounded Mignolet and scored his second of the evening from an acute angle.
In extra time, Spileers pulled the emergency brake in the box when Rodriguez trumped him. The substitute wanted to take the penalty himself, but that turned out not to be a good idea. The Ecuadorian missed, but Union’s victory was no longer threatened afterwards.
