Union and Club Brugge shared the points after an animated top match. With a 2-0 lead, the people of Brussels seemed to be on their way to three golden points, but Club still fought their way to a point through Talbi and Nilsson. The unbeaten run of both Union and Club continues.
With Union-Club we were presented with a top match on Sunday evening between the two best Belgian teams of the moment: Union had already been undefeated in 11 games, Club did even better with 12. That must give sparks, you might think. That was certainly not the case in the first half.
Union took control of the match, but lacked some creativity up front. The absence of Loïc Lapoussin, who was not there for “disciplinary reasons”, undoubtedly had something to do with this. Has the Malagasy sidelined himself again?
It was a long wait for opportunities. After fifteen minutes, Club had already restored the balance, and the first chances were for the visitors. Chances, we say: Vanaken's first shot was too central to worry Moris, but on his second attempt the Luxembourg goalie had to hit the target. Both Club and Union initially did not go further than that.
Credit where credit is due: there was simply excellent defense on both sides. First, Mac Allister prevented Nilsson from scoring with a good tackle, Mechele did the same to David on the other side.
Great run
A 0-0 was the logical halftime score, but in the last five minutes Union stepped up a gear. First Mignolet showed off a beautiful parade on Ivanovic's shot, but just before the half-time signal the Bruges goalkeeper had to give in. And that is entirely the merit of Franjo Ivanovic: the Croatian striker left with the ball at his feet in his own half, and shot the ball from outside the box perfectly over the corner. It was Ivanovic's sixth goal in three matches: what confidence can do to a footballer.
Photo: BELGIAN
The ideal moment to score, just before half-time. At the start of the second half, Club seemed to realize that it had to do better, but they soon conceded a second (unfortunate) goal. David's shot was stopped by Mignolet, but the ball landed on Nielsen's legs and rolled into the goal. Bad luck for Casper Nielsen against his ex-club: 2-0.
Union gives it away
Played a match? No, because Club did not want to see that unbeaten run stopped just like that. Just after the hour mark, Hayen switched to a three-man defense, and that had an immediate effect: after a clever counter, Tzolis reached the recently substituted Talbi, and the 19-year-old Belgian shot in well. We had another match in the Dudenpark.
Club smelled blood, Union seemed to have doubts. Skov Olsen threatened, but shot wide. Union found it more difficult to keep the ball in the team, although Club also had difficulty being really dangerous. Just when the people of Bruges seemed to be looking for their best game, they scored: first Moris made a good save on a deviation from Jutgla, but Nilsson followed well to tap the ball home. He also scores against his former team, and this time in the right goal.
After the equalizer, both teams tried to take all the spoils, and it was Union that ended up taking the three points: Burgess was able to nod from close range, but Mignolet again took the ball well. Club sees Genk moving ahead in the standings again due to the loss of points, but it will be mainly happy that they did not lose.
Foto: David Catry / Isosport
Union: Maurice, Mac Allister, Burgess, Machida, Khalaili, Vanhoutte, Sadiki, Boufal (80' Van De Perre), Niang (89' Castro-Montes), David, Ivanovic
Club Bruges: Mignolet, Sabbe (65' Jutgla), Ordonez, Mechele, Seys (46' Romero), Nielsen (65' Talbi), Jashari, Vanaken, Skov Olsen (90' Siquet), Tzolis, Nilsson
Goals: 45+3' Ivanovic (Boufal, 1-0), 60' Nielsen (owngoal, 2-0), 66' Talbi (Tzolis, 2-1), 78' Nilsson (2-2)
Yellow cards: 67’ Tzolis, 77’ Mac Allister, 84’ Burges, 90+6’ Romero
Red cards: no
Referee: Lawrence Visser
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