No historic final for Club Brugge: penalty in the end punctures blue-black’s dream

Club Brugge

Fiorentina

1715242660_967_No-historic-final-for-Clu

FIO

CLU

20′ – Goal – Hans Vanaken (1 – 0)
43′ – Yellow – Joel Ordóñez

52′ – Yellow – Igor Thiago
62′ – Yellow – Hugo Vetlesen
70′ – Cont. Hugo Vetlesen by Philip Zinckernagel
70′ – Cont. Andrea Belotti by M’Bala Nzola
71′ – Cont. Arthur by Alfred Duncan
72′ – Yellow – Denis Odoi
83′ – Yellow – Brandon Mechele
85′ – Goal penalty – Lucas Beltrán (1 – 1)
86′ – Cont. Denis Odoi by Antonio Nusa
86′ – Cont. Michal Skóras by Casper Nielsen
88′ – Yellow – Nikola Milenkovic
90′ – Yellow – Lucas Beltrán
90′ – Cont. Lucas Beltrán by Luca Ranieri
90+4′ – Yellow – Dodo
90+4′ – Yellow 2 – Denis Odoi
90+6′ – Yellow – Hans Vanaken
90+6′ – Yellow – M’Bala Nzola

UEFA Europa Conference League – matchday 2 – 08/05/24 – 18:46

time	icon	player	homeTime	homeIcon	homePlayer	score	awayPlayer	awayIcon	awayTime
20′		Hans Vanaken	20′		Hans Vanaken	1 – 0
85′		Lucas Beltrán				1 – 1	Lucas Beltrán		85′

A penalty will haunt Club Brugge’s minds for a long time. Against Fiorentina, blue and black could dream of a historic European final thanks to an early goal by De Cuyper, but in the end that scenario was brutally punctured. The Italian visitors, who had previously cursed at the crossbar and post, were awarded a (questionable?) penalty in minute 82. Beltrán scored the crucial equalizer and plunged Jan Breydel into mourning.

Club Brugge – Fiorentina in a nutshell:

Key moment: Thanks to the goal wood, Club Brugge seems to be on its way to extra time despite the pressure from Fiorentina, but things still go wrong in the final phase. Mechele plants his knee in Nzola’s face and the ball hits the spot. Beltran then shows no mercy.
Man of the match: He didn’t score, but he did impress. Christian Kouamé, who worked for Anderlecht two years ago, made a notable return to the Jan Breydel Stadium. He weighed on the Bruges defense and hit the crossbar and the post.
Remarkable: Club Brugge just missed out on a European final, just like in 1988 (in the UEFA Cup) and 1992 (in the Cup Winners’ Cup). The last time Club managed to reach the final was in 1978. Then it lost the final of the European Cup I against Liverpool.
Statistics: Club Brugge and Italian teams, it is not a good marriage. Club has played a total of 22 matches against an Italian opponent and has only won 5 times. For home victories against an Italian opponent we even have to go back to the 1970s.

De Cuyper makes Jan Breydel explode

After more than 46 years, once again advancing to a European final. Club Brugge had an appointment with history in a sold-out Jan Breydel Stadium. Just like in 1978, Club had to pick up a one-goal deficit against an Italian opponent for its own people. Then Juventus fell for the axe, now Fiorentina had to suffer.

The pressure initially seemed to have a paralyzing effect in a nervous start to the match, but halfway through the first half the Jan Breydel Stadium exploded. De Cuyper’s curls just barely caressed the ball on an excellent cross from Vanaken. In any case, Terracciano was left defeated. The deficit from the first leg had been wiped away.

The euphoric feeling among the Club fans almost immediately subsided when Gonzalez came face to face with Mignolet after an excellent pass from Arthur Melo. The Argentinian aimed straight at the Club goalkeeper and in the replay Beltran shot wide. A sigh of relief came from the stands.

La Viola’s pressure continued with attempts from Kouamé and Belotti. Yet the Italians escaped another blow after half an hour. Thiago was able to push through and offered Skoras an excellent opportunity to make it 2-0, but Dodo was just in between.

It went from almost 2-0 to almost 1-1 five minutes later. Kouamé struck hard on a falling ball in the sixteen. The former Anderlecht striker’s shot bounced back into the field via the crossbar just before the goal line. Dame Fortuna was once again at Club’s side.

Penalty violation Mechele shatters final dream

Club Brugge lost control of the match in the second half. Shortly after half-time, Odoi had an excellent header chance, but after that Club was no longer able to keep the ball in the team and the offensive came to a complete standstill.

Fiorentina, on the other hand, grew stronger, but continued to have bad luck. Biraghi’s free kick exploded onto the crossbar. Mignolet also had no chance against Kouamé’s header, this time the post saved Club.

The 1-1 was in the air and a few minutes before the end, Club finally cracked under the pressure. Nzola bent over in the box to head and was met by Mechele’s high knee in the face. The ball hit the spot and Beltran converted the penalty flawlessly.

In extra time, Club was almost able to force extra time. After a dramatic throw-in from Dodo, Vanaken was able to push through and take a swing, but Terracciano just saved the deflected shot.

Fiorentina, clearly stronger than Club in two games, advances to the final of the Conference League for the second season in a row. An impressive European campaign ends in the semi-finals for Club Brugge.

Phase by phase

No final for Club Brugge

What a disappointment for Club Brugge! It just misses a European final. The evening started well with De Cuyper’s opening goal, but a penalty violation by Mechele in the final phase did the team’s best. Beltran sealed Bruges’ fate and took Fiorentina to the final of the Conference League for the second season in a row.

Vanaken is still very close to 2-1

After a dramatic throw-in from Dodo, Vanaken is suddenly able to advance. He takes a dangerous swing, but Terracciano is just able to make the save. Oh, how close Club was here to the 2-1!

Club does not get a penalty kick in the end

A push-up earns Odoi a red card

Dodo delays too long during a throw-in in front of the Bruges bench and Odoi, who has already been substituted, then pushes the ball against the Brazilian’s chest. He received a second yellow card. Dodo also takes yellow.

Club still has five minutes. The tension is palpable.

De Cuyper lies down too easily in the box after a duel with Duncan. At Club they want a penalty, ref Umut Meler rightly does not agree.

An extra 7 minutes will be added.