It was a hard-fought 4-3 win for Club Brugge against Westerlo, despite an early double lead after fifteen minutes of play through Skov Olsen and Tzolis. Westerlo dragged themselves back through Yow and Vušković, but substitute Hugo Siquet claimed all three points with a brace. In between his two goals Devine leveled again for the visitors.
Nicky Hayen was forced into making one change to his starting eleven, compared to the team that had drawn 2-2 with Union on Sunday: Joaquin Seys was sidelined with an injury and replaced by Zaid Romero on the left full-back position. De Cuyper and Onyedika were still out, so Sabbe and Nielsen retrained their place. Club took the initiative and scored almost right from the start. After good link-up play by Vanaken and Nielsen, the ball ended up with Skov Olsen who curled the ball brilliantly in the far top corner from closeby.
Five minutes later Vušković hacked down Nielsen inside the penalty area, but referee Verboomen and VAR let play continue. Westerlo responded via Devine who saw his shot blocked by Romero. After another quick attacking move, it's Club that doubled the lead when Skov Olsen feeded the ball to Tzolis and the Greek rifled it in the far corner. No chance for the goalkeeper, as his shot had taken a deflection on a defender.
We're halfway when Sayyadmanesh went down in the 18-yard box after a duel with Nielsen. This time VAR called Verboomen for an on field review, but the referee sticked to his decision. Club dominated the match and looked for a third goal, but Nilsson fired just over the target, Romero saw his shot stopped by Van Langendonck and Nilsson just couldn't guide Sabbe through on goal. Westerlo tried to claw its way back into the game, mainly via the industrious Griffin Yow. His first shot went wide, his second was parried away by Mignolet. But in the first half's stoppage time the American got his goal when he blasted it into the far corner: 2-1.
That goal lifted the spirits of Westerlo who were best out of the straps in the second half. Sayyadmanesh, Reynolds and Yow forced Mignolet into making a save, while Devine hoofed his effort over the bar. For Club there was only a low drive by Tzolis which was handled easily by Van Langendonck. Westerlo's attacking aspirations payed off when Luka Vušković slammed it high into the net with a spectacular scissor kick.
Westerlo got their equalizer, but Club tried to turn things around right away. First Jashari almost made a brilliant goal from far out, but his strike crashed against the bar. A few minutes later Hugo Siquet, who had just come on, gave Club the lead again with a magnificent goal as he curled it into the far top corner. Moments later Siquet played in Tzolis, but the Greek saw his low drive saved once again.
Twenty minutes before the end Westerlo equalized again. This time Devine beat the offside trap before tapping it in via the inside of the far post. A few minutes later Mignolet had to palm away an effort by the Englishman. With the match drawing to an end Club went all out in search of the three points and it payed off. Deep into stoppage time Michał Skóraś was brought down inside the penalty area. Verboomen waved the appeal away, but changed his opinion after an on field review: penalty for Club. Van Langendonck guessed right and kept out Siquet's penalty kick, but the defender tapped in the rebound himself. A brace for the substitute!
Because Genk had drawn 2-2 with Antwerp earlier that day, Club is now just one point behind the league leaders.
Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 20
Attendance: 25.000 – Jan Breydelstadion
Referee: Nathan Verboomen
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Kyriani Sabbe, Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Zaid Romero (63’ Hugo Siquet) – Casper Nielsen (83’ Hugo Vetlesen), Ardon Jashari - Andreas Skov Olsen (74’ Chemsdine Talbi), Hans Vanaken, Christos Tzolis (83’ Michał Skóraś) – Gustaf Nilsson (74’ Ferran Jutglà). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Amine Et-Taibi, Denzel De Roeve and Jorne Spileers. Coach: Nicky Hayen.
KVC Westerlo: Koen Van Langendonck – Bryan Reynolds, Luka Vušković, Emin Bayram, Tuur Rommens – Alfie Devine, Dogucan Haspolat, Arthur Piedfort (84’ Thomas Van den Keybus) - Griffin Yow, Allahyar Sayyadmanesh (84’ Adedire Mebude), Jordan Bos. Coach: Timmy Simons
Yellow cards: Haspolat, Yow.
Red cards: none
Goals: 5’ Skov Olsen (1-0), 16’ Tzolis (2-0), 45+2’ Yow (2-1), 56’ Vušković (2-2), 64’ Siquet (3-2), 71’ Devine (3-3), 90+4’ Siquet (4-3).