Club Brugge remains invincible in the Champions’ Play-offs: now Antwerp was defeated by its own Bosuil after an intense top match (1-2). De Cuyper and Skov Olsen scored the goals, Balikwisha made it even more exciting. At 6:30 PM, Club will quietly watch to see who will be the big challenger in the title battle: Union or Anderlecht?
The opulence at Club Brugge is great: Nicky Hayen once again clearly hinted that at the Bosuil. Compared to the match at Fiorentina, no fewer than six new names appeared in the starting line-up. And not the least. Mignolet, for example, who quickly had to box a seething shot from Ejuke from his cage. Antwerp had started like a fury: after three (!) seconds Janssen already took the yellow card after a big hit on Onyedika. Cutting off Club’s legs immediately and playing the physical card, that seemed to be the plan. But Blue-Black remained calm and took matters into their own hands after about ten minutes.
Mignolet saves Club
Did that provide great opportunities? Not quite. A dangerous deviation from Vanaken after a corner briefly caused panic in the Antwerp sixteen, not much later Lammens grabbed a shot from Nusa after a miss in the back. Antwerp clearly left the ball to Club and kept it compact. Blauw-zwart had all the trouble in the world to find holes. Skov Olsen – first starter since March 10 – barely featured in the piece, Thiago was also kept in check. Nusa did get the ball a lot, but generally did little with it.
In the meantime, Club had to watch out for Antwerp counters. Just before half time, Janssen suddenly came face to face with Mignolet, who kept the Dutchman with a hand on the sixteenth of the opening goal. The ex-Red Devil had already defused a shot from Alderweireld and thus showed himself to the better Bruges team before half-time. For those who still had doubts: Club doesn’t exactly have a problem in goal.
Ordonez makes it exciting
It could all have been a bit more after the break. A goal was supposed to explode the match. And just like in Genk, the penny fell on the Bruges side. Thiago sent De Cuyper to the back line with a clever tap, and his cross fluttered past a bewildered Lammens via the foot of Alderweireld. Club ahead after a lucky goal. Again. The scenario seemed like a copy of last weekend’s. At the Bosuil, the home fans stepped up their game: while blue-black blood smelled, the decibels in the stands rose. And this in the hope of averting a defeat against their arch-rival.
Van Bommel made a triple substitution: Kerk, Balikwisha and Yusuf came. The signal for a crazy four minutes. A sharp cross from Kerk was missed by a toenail, but in the next phase Skov Olsen countered to make it 0-2. The Dane cleverly pushed the ball into the far corner in his well-known style. Played a match? Not at all, because a minute later Ordonez hung on Balikwisha. Vergoote pointed to the spot: the substitute was allowed to convert the penalty himself. Antwerp suddenly completely back in the game.
No second penalty
Now Hayen brought two fresh forces: Skoras and Zinckernagel came to relieve the two Bruges wing attackers for the last quarter of the match. And that turned into a game of chess. Club tried to play football for results, Antwerp was waiting for the counter-attack with its fast guys. And if it became annoying for blue-black: De Cuyper got away well when he launched a tackle on Kerk in the box. Vergoote did not see a penalty, nor did the VAR.
Five minutes of injury time made no changes to the scoreboard: Club Brugge won the play-offs for the sixth (!) time in a row and (for the time being) jumps to the top of the rankings. Union and Anderlecht will soon be allowed to decide in a mutual match who will be the biggest title challenger.
© BELGA
Antwerp
–
:
–
Club Brugge
- Club Brugge now also wins on the Antwerp field and takes 19 out of 21
- Winning people from Bruges put further pressure on Union and Anderlecht
- The home team lacks confidence for next Thursday’s cup final
Supporters continue to create the atmosphere
The second half couldn’t have started better for the people of Bruges. A center from De Cuyper ended up against the net via the foot of Alderweireld. Goalkeeper Lammens was nailed to the ground. Antwerp found no solution and after a brilliant inspiration from Skov Olsen the score became 0-2.
A minute later the ball hit the spot after a mistake by Ordonez on Balikwisha. Balikwisha made it 1-2 from eleven meters. The home team wanted a second penalty after De Cuyper’s mistake on Kerk, but referee Vergoote and the VAR did not intervene. Club takes a sixth win in a row in these Champions’ Play-offs and takes the lead for the time being. It is already the sixth defeat for Antwerp and it is not a good dress rehearsal for Thursday’s cup final against Union.
Skoras and Thiago do it briefly. Another minute won. The Bruges fans think it’s good this way. They see their team win for the sixth time in a row in these crazy Champions’ Play-offs.
The defender gets a yellow line behind his name after a foul on Thiago. This is how time continues to tick away.
Head to head Kerk and De Cuyper remain down after an aerial duel. Both players need care. It continues like this and we end up playing more than five minutes longer.
No penaltyReferee Jasper Vergoote does not whistle for a mistake by De Cuyper on Kerk. The Antwerp crowd wants a penalty. The VAR has to take a look at this situation, but nothing happens.
Hugo Vetlesen’s better theater
Coach Mark van Bommel gets a yellow card for protesting. He shows a thumbs up for referee Vergoote, but it is meant very cynically.
No chancesAntwerp does not create opportunities. It can’t put together a full-fledged attack. This is where the shoe pinches. It will have to be a lot sharper next Thursday in the cup final at Heysel against Union.
Ten more minutesAntwerp still has ten minutes to avoid a sixth defeat in these Champions’ Play-offs. Club Brugge is on its way to a sixth victory in a row and thus comes one step closer to the title. Would you have dared to predict this a month ago?
Comedy Vetlesen goes down after a duel with goalkeeper Lammens. He falls behind the goal line and then rushes onto the field. The home crowd does not accept this. Referee Vergoote also does not comment on it, but forgets to give a yellow card. The better commedia dell’arte that we sometimes see in Serie A.
Brian Vandenbussche, Antwerp’s goalkeeping coach, is shown a red card on the sideline for protesting. The signal for the home crowd to provide some more fire.
Without trustKerk escapes offside but then does something very strange. Instead of crossing, he immediately shoots at goal. His attempt sails far wide. The Dutchman is clearly not overflowing with confidence.
The substitute takes responsibility and hits the 1-2 against the net. We have another competition.
