Club Brugge recorded an emphatic 3-0 win against Standard. Blauw-Zwart took the lead through Tresoldi and put the game to bed before half-time thanks to a Bates own goal and a header by Ordóñez.
Club's selection was riddled with illness, seeing Vermant, Tzolis, Spileers, Reis and Sandra all ruled out for the game against Standard. Coming on for Tzolis was Tresoldi, while in the heart of defence Ordóñez - back from suspension - took Spileers' place.
Two chances showed that Club had manned the pitch with the finest of intentions: a shot by Stanković was caught by Pirard, while Diakhon dragged his effort wide. The visitors had put up a double defensive wall, with Club trying to pry open that defense through intricate passing. Fifteen minutes into the game, Vanaken was able to launch Forbs, but Pirard proved equal to his shot. The following corner landed at the far post by Mechele, who took it in one go, but it flew into the side-netting. A Stanković free-kick also ended up on the wrong side of the post, while Ordóñez saw his header end up on the roof of the goal.
The deserved 1-0 finally came with ten minutes on the clock: Sabbe flicked the ball in front of goal to find Nicolò Tresoldi eagerly tapping it in from close range. Moments later a shot by that same Tresoldi was blocked, but the hosts clearly remained in control and were able to score twice more before the break: first a shot from Forbs took a deflection against Pirard and eventually Bates before it hit the back of the net, and immediately afterwards Ordóñez headed in a corner kick from Forbs to make it three.
Standard started the second half with three fresh players threatening immediately: substitute Mohr headed a Mortensen cross just wide. Unabashed, Club went in search of a fourth goal, and it took a focused Pirard to save two attempts by Forbs, while Tresoldi was unable to put enough power into his shot after a long rush, and Pirard again parried a shot by Sabbe.
The Liège players were no longer in a position to put Club in trouble, with Club monopolizing the ball. Tresoldi deviated a cross from Meijer just wide and goalkeeper Pirard saved each time on attempts by Diakhon, Tresoldi and Onyedika. In the final minute, a header by substitute Nilsson went just wide. The score remained at 3-0 in what proved a leisurely stroll in the park for Club against a hapless Standard. The gap to leaders Union remains five points.
Jupiler Pro League - Matchday 24
Attendance: 26.000 - Jan Breydel stadium
Referee: Mr. Bram Van Driessche
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet - Kyriani Sabbe (67' Hugo Siquet), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys (67' Bjorn Meijer) - Aleksandar Stanković, Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs (85' Shandre Campbell), Nicolò Tresoldi (85' Gustaf Nilsson), Mamadou Diakhon (78' Hugo Vetlesen).
Bench: Nordin Jackers, Vince Osuji and Félix Lemaréchal.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Standard Liege: Lucas Pirard - Ibe Hautekiet, David Bates, Josué Homawoo - Marlon Fossey (46' Steeven Assengue, 69' Daan Dierckx), Henry Lawrence, Nayel Mehssatou, Gustav Mortensen - Adnane Abid (46' Tobias Mohr), Dennis Eckert Ayensa (46' Timothé Nkada), Rafiki Saïd.
Coach: Vincent Euvrard.
Yellow: Bates, Homawoo.
Red: none
Goals: 34' Tresoldi (1-0), 45' Bates (owngoal, 2-0), 45+2' Ordóñez (3-0).