Club Brugge continues to steam ahead: leader Genk (2-0) also suffered the ax on Sunday. Mechele only broke the spell in minute 77. Genk had missed a penalty through Tolu four minutes earlier, and Skov Olsen secured the final score with a great goal. Or how it became a perfect week for blue-black: it all comes down to the Limburgers.
One team had achieved a nice victory in the Champions League on Tuesday, the other team simply played last weekend. Yet Club Brugge was sharper than leader Genk in all areas on Sunday. Four points difference in the rankings? Nothing to notice. There was grinta, running ability and good football. And above all, there was a truckload of opportunities before half time. Tzolis put the opening goal on the wrong side of the post early in the match. De Cuyper had opened beautifully on Talbi and got the ball back in the sixteen. He offered the 1-0 on a platter to his Greek teammate, but he missed incomprehensibly. It was the harbinger of 45 minutes of one-way traffic. Genk was able to threaten once: Tolu curled the ball just wide when Genk touched the Bruges goal.
Genk’s pressure turns out wrong
Club Brugge pushed through and accelerated when it wanted. If it was 3-0 at half time, no one should grumble about that. Tzolis tried again from the edge of the box. Just next. A third attempt was well blocked by Sadick. And when Onyedika aimed at the post, it seemed to be one of those days for Blue-Black. Club often took advantage of the high pressure from Genk to break out. The visitors were played out of context several times with one clever ball. But the national champion did not benefit. The fact that it was still 0-0 at half time was actually a half-miracle.
The peace was supposed to bring advice for Genk. And that worked, because the second half was a lot more balanced. Club had to tolerate the opponent in its own half more often. The big opportunities took longer to materialize. In minute 55, Blue and Black asked for a penalty after Kayembe received a ball from Seys in the box. Vergoote did not whistle and the VAR made no mention of one clear and obvious error. Last week at Mechelen, Club was spared in a similar situation with Spileers, now Genk was lucky. There was handball, but understandably the ball did not hit the spot. Because Kayembe’s arm remained against the body.
After three quarters of the match there was still no goal scored. Although Jashari came very close in minute 68. The Swiss midfielder controlled the ball close to goal and pressed after a turning movement. His shot narrowly went wide. And those who miss the opportunities will be punished. The ball did go on the other side on the spot. Ordonez took down Tolu when he wanted to score after a good cross from El Ouahdi. Jan Breydel held his breath, but there was Mignolet. The goalie dived to the right corner and grabbed Tolu’s (weak) penalty. The stadium treated him to a song of praise.
Photo: BELGIAN
Mechele with mask
Hayen still tried to win by bringing Skov Olsen and Vermant. The missed penalty gave Club energy to once again move en masse towards the Genk goal. Ultimately it was Mechele who broke the spell with a broken nose and a mask. The defender headed a corner neatly past Van Crombrugge, although the latter was in no man’s land. His appeal for a mistake turned out to be unfounded: the goalkeeper ran into his own player.
Club topped it all off with a rehearsed song. Vanaken surprisingly delivered a free kick on the edge of the sixteen to substitute Skov Olsen, who aimed simply but beautifully into the far corner. Books available for Genk. Club is now within one point and has now remained unbeaten for twelve games. After the victory against Sporting Lisbon, it makes for a perfect week.
Photo: BELGIAN
