A trip to Limburg for Club in the Round of 16 of the Croky Cup, taking on Patro Eisden Maasmechelen. An early opener by Nielsen paved the way, but on the half hour mark Patro drew level through Van Eenoo. Early on in the second half, Vanaken provided the new lead with a heading goal and eventually Jashari recorded the 1-3 final score. Club continues in the Croky Cup!
Blauw-Zwart kept things exciting at home Saturday against Dender for a long time, but finally managed to win by a comfortable 4-1 score. Due to a very busy schedule, coach Hayen decided to rotate his starting line-up for the cup match against Patro Eisden. Six substitutions were made and the first took place in goal. Mignolet got a rest and Jackers got his chance. In defense, Sabbe and Romero showed their skills at the expense of Seys and Ordóñez. In midfield, Jashari got some rest and Nielsen was allowed to start. The last two changes were made in the offensive compartment. Talbi decided Saturday's game against Dender with two late goals and received coach Hayen's confidence. He played alongside Tzolis in support of deep striker Vermant. Thus, Skov Olsen and Jutglà started from the bench.
It was Club that immediately claimed the ball in the opening stages of the match, allowing the ball to go from foot to foot with ease. After just under ten minutes, Tzolis pushed on through the wing to produce a fine cross in front of goal, where it was cleared by Van Eenoo. The first real chance came a few minutes later when De Cuyper sent a good cross into the box where Talbi was able to head, but his attempt went wide. A bit later, Tzolis found Nielsen with a fine throughball, and the Danish midfielder did not hesitate to pop the early lead past Belin. Blauw-Zwart did not rest on its laurels, in search of that second goal. Vanaken was able to get the ball to Sabbe, but Vermant was unable to get a touch to his cross. A bit alter, De Cuyper got the ball to Tzolis, but the Greek winger's volley proved harmless. Twenty minutes into the game, with Patro still looking for that first chance, Bammens headed towards goal after a through ball, but Jackers pushed the ball against the post with an ultimate reflex. In the rebound, Bammens was able to head again, but again Club's goalie prevented the equalizer.
A warning signal for the visitors not to take it too easily, reacting through Vermant, testing from afar but not finding Belin at fault. On the half hour mark, the score was tied again and Patro Eisden unfortunately had Jackers to thank for that. The Blauw-Zwart goalkeeper hesitated too long to put the ball in play and lost it to Bammens. The latter easily laid back for Van Eenoo, who did not hesitate to kick the equalizer against the nets. The game went well up and down in this phase, as the visitors reacted rather quickly to the counter-goal. After a good combination between Vanaken and Vermant, Nielsen was able to score from just outside the penalty area, but his deviated effort unfortunately hit the crossbar. Moments later it was the Limburgers' turn again and again through Van Eenoo. This time he tried it from far away on a deflected ball. Jackers took no risk this time and pushed the ball into a corner. One minute later we could already note another chance on the opposite side, but Belin went well flat to keep a shot from Sabbe out of his goal. In the ensuing corner kick, Mechele was unable to frame his header. Patro's goalie made two more appearances at the end of the first half after intervening on attempts by Vermant and a header by Talbi, but did not allow himself to be outsmarted. We rested with a tie of 1-1...
No changes were made at the start of the second half, and it was again Club taking a fine start, De Cuyper lining up for a corner kick, finding Vanaken inside the box left all alone to head in the lead (1-2). The home team's reaction was not long in coming: an action by Vanrafelghem made it to Bammens who got it to Abid, forcing Jackers into a good save and in the corner kick that followed, Club's goalie also reacted wisely. Club took command again, with Vanaken and Vermant finding each other well and the latter laying off for Tzolis, but the Greek's shot was duly taken care of by Belin. Two minutes later the Greek got a second chance, again on a Vermant pass, but again Belin put a stop to it. The Patro goalkeeper continued making a name for himself, as he also kept a deviation from his own teammate Borry out of his goal with an excellent reflex. On the hour, he also had some windfall when a header from Vermant landed on the crossbar.
With the gap at just the one goal, Patro Eisden retained its belief for a good outcome. Dansoko found the back line and dribbled past Sabbe at speed before putting it in front of goal. Fortunately, Nielsen tracked it well to intervene. A few minutes later it was up to Vanrafelghem who took his chance from just outside the sixteen, but his curl was fortunately poorly framed. Van Eenoo was the last to try in this short space of time, but his shot did not land inside the woodwork either. 80 minutes in, the game seemed done and dusted, as Jashari pushed on to remain in possession, getting it to Vanaken who clearheadedly returned the pass in the Swiss' stride and one hard shot later the score was at 1-3. Soon after it could have been worse for the hosts as Vermant was unable to finish from close range after a deflected shot by Vetlesen. Shortly before the end of regular playing time, the home team responded once more via a shot from Dansoko, but Jackers had no problem with the central shot.
Six minutes of added time were counted. After a sharp counter Vermant was able to make it 1-4, but Belin continued his strong performance, keeping it at 1-3. The result was never in doubt, however, as Blue and Black makes it to the Round of 18 of the Croky Cup!
Croky Cup - Round of 16
Audience: 6,500 - Patro Stadium
Referee: Mr. Lothar D'Hondt
Patro Eisden Maasmechelen: Jordi Belin - Henk Dijkhuizen (82' Papa Demba Ndior), Jordan Renson, Kjetil Borry, Kevin Kis - Reno Wilmots (82' William Simba), Lukas Van Eenoo, Simon Bammens - Adnane Abid (76' Vicky Kiankaulua), Keano Vanrafelghem, Bafodé Dansoko.
Bench: Gian Geladé, Stef Kempeneers, Raoul Kenne, Sebas Vreys, Tarek Loutfi, William Simba, Papa Demba Ndior, Raphaël Sarfo, Vicky Kiankaulua.
Coach: Stijn Stijnen.
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers - Kyriani Sabbe, Brandon Mechele, Zaid Romero, Maxim De Cuyper (66' Joaquin Seys) - Raphael Onyedika (66' Ardon Jashari), Casper Nielsen (76' Hugo Vetlesen), Hans Vanaken - Chemsdine Talbi (88' Joel Ordóñez), Romeo Vermant, Christos Tzolis (76' Michał Skóraś).
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Dani van den Heuvel, Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez, Hugo Siquet, Hugo Vetlesen, Ardon Jashari, Michał Skóraś, Ferran Jutglà, Andreas Skov Olsen.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: Kis, Vanaken, Skóraś, Ordóñez
Red: none
Goals: 13' Nielsen (0-1), 31' Van Eenoo (1-1), 48' Vanaken (1-2), 81' Jashari (1-3)