A 1-1 draw for Club Brugge in its ultimate game of the season. Antwerp's Balikwisha put the visitors in the lead, but a great curl by Tzolis put the score in balance. No more goals followed in the second half, and with Union securing the three points against AA Gent, Club ends the season as runners-up.
With both Hugo Siquet and Romeo Vermant conceding a third booking at Anderlecht last week, coach Hayen was forced to make two changes to the team that had claimed the full loot in the capital, giving the nod to Joaquin Seys and Ferran Jutglà. Club needed a result to still piggy back Union for the top spot, and hit the ground running. Just two minutes into the game, Jashari launched Jutglà, but the Spaniard tried going past Lammens but swerved too wide to create any danger. A bit later Jashari found De Cuyper on the left wing, but the youngster's cross was cleared just in time before it reached a Tzolis in excellent scoring position.
Plenty of possession for the hosts, inching closer to that opening goal as De Cuyper's shot was cleared and a hard shot by Ordóñez whizzed just wide of target. Antwerp maintained a fine organisation, and succeeded where Club couldn't in scoring from its first threat of the game: Doumbia with the clever ball to put Balikwisha eye-toe-eye with Jackers, and it was 0-1, making the job at hand even harder on Club. Things could have been even more dire as Deman tried his luck, but Jackers proved the better of the long range effort. A narrow escape for Club, and the skies opened up even more just a few minutes later: Tzolis cutting inside and faking a shot, only to curl it in neatly by the far post. With Gent equalising at Union, Jan Breydel erupted, but Club still had to work for it, and the hosts thanked their lucky stars to see Jackers deny Praet with a double save.
As the unfortunate Seys was replaced by Bjorn Meijer in the second half, the Dutchman immediately pulled his weight, producing a fine cross for Jutglà, but it was cleared in the nick of time. An Onyedika header was cleared a bit later by Chery, while a hard shot by Vanaken swerved over. Lammens also produced fine saves, denying De Cuyper and Jashari from afar. That second goal was now really looming in the distance, but it was Antwerp that came closest to punishing Club's attacking intentions, as Doumbia was put in front of Jackers on the break, but the midfielder tapped it just wide of target. Moments later, Chery saw his shot go over.
With Union putting more distance between them and AA Gent, Club's title dreams were in shatters. Only one goal remained for Club: claim that win against Antwerp, and plenty of chances followed to do so: a great pull-back by Meijer ended up with Tzolis who fired it high over, Campbell's attempt was blocked, and Ordóñez left all alone by the far post, could not get a fine touch to the ball from a very promising position. Antwerp also tried putting a dagger to the Club fans' hearts, but Jackers saved a Riedewald effort, and the goalie had a great reflex in store to deny Bayo. Stuck at 1-1, but a win would not have sufficed for Club, seeing Union beat AA Gent. An long but impressive season ends in second place for Club Brugge.
Jupiler Pro League – Champions’ Play-offs: Match Day 10
Audience: 29,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Lothar D’Hondt
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers – Joaquin Seys (46’ Bjorn Meijer), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (87’ Casper Nielsen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken – Hugo Vetlesen (62’ Gustaf Nilsson), Ferran Jutglà (83’ Michał Skóraś), Christos Tzolis (83’ Shandre Campbell).
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Vince Osuji, Jorne Spileers and Lynnt Audoor.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Royal Antwerp FC: Senne Lammens – Zeno Van den Bosch, Denis Odoi, Jaïro Riedewald (84’ Kobe Corbanie) Semm Renders (67’ Jelle Bataille), Mahamadou Doumbia (76’ Andreas Verstraeten), Dennis Praet (67’ Mauricio Benitez), Chistopher Scott, Olivier Deman – Tjaronn Chery (76’ Mohamed Bayo), Michel Ange Balikwisha.
Coach: Andries Ulderink.
Yellow: Doumbia, Vanaken.
Red: none
Goals: 35’ Balikwisha (0-1), 43’ Tzolis (1-1).