Because from the start of the match, the Union was jostled on the field where it had won the Belgian Supercup less than three months ago. Solid in the duels, the Bruges players won the famous midfield battle, full of confidence after their success a few days earlier in the Champions League. But Nicky Hayen’s men were too technically imprecise to really hurt this Union which agreed to leave the ball to its opponent without once showing itself to be dangerous.
A draw that suits no one: Bruges and the Union part back to back after a disputed match (1-1)
Double situation
Just before the break, the match could have taken a completely different turn with a double action which showed that the Unionists were in trouble. It was first of all on an involuntary but faulty collision by Mac Allister on Tzolis in the area that Bruges could have received a penalty but the referee certainly considered that a fault earlier in the phase had been made on Vanhoutte. A few moments later, it was Moris’s turn to get people talking about him by making a good save in front of Vanaken.
The Union could be happy to return to the locker room without having conceded a goal even if they dared at times to go after Bruges in their game. It could also have been to have gone in front at the start of the second half, just after a huge opportunity for Bruges: on a superb action with a control of the right foot followed by a shot with the left foot, Franjo Ivanovic offered himself the opening the score and at the same time his second goal in the championship (0-1).
Tension at its height during Bruges – Union: Anthony Moris has to leave the interview because of the opposing supporters!
Cunning returns
It was then that the spectators of this match saw again a disciplined Union, solid in duels with numerous yellow cards and cunning like when Moris and Burgess wasted a lot of time by launching a two-way discussion just before a clearance. Under the “anti-football” launched by the Bruges supporters, the Union logically suffered in the face of the Bruges assaults. And by dint of bending, the Pocognoli team ended up breaking in a frustrating way on a header from Mechele via a corner (1-1).
Sébastien Pocognoli following Union’s draw against Bruges: “I can’t ask more from my players at the moment”
At the final whistle, which fell after a big chance for both sides in stoppage time, both teams had reason to be disappointed. But the day after this draw, once the disappointment has been swallowed, the Union players will certainly realize that this point among the reigning champions is a good point allowing them to calmly attack the international break while remaining in contact with the Top 6 A point taken with courage demonstrating that the vice-champions could adapt their game according to the circumstances of a match.
