For more than an hour, between the 21st and the 86th minute, there was hope of a European stunt for Club Brugge. Hans Vanaken – or was it Maxim De Cuyper? – had given Club Brugge the lead halfway through the first half, making the match evenly balanced (3–3). But after a strong start, Club Brugge forgot to continue and Fiorentina hit the target three times, after which it was 1-1 five minutes before the end.
The way Club conceded the goal was bittersweet. Club defender Brandon Mechele intercepted the ball with a high leg, after which Fiorentina substitute M’Bala Nzola went down in the box. The Turkish ref Halil Umut Meler pointed to the penalty spot, the VAR had no arguments to intervene. Argentina’s promising international Lucas Beltrán took over the penalty spot and virtually shot Fiorentina to the final. Simon Mignolet chose the right angle, but did not reach the ball.
In a nervous end to the match, Club came close to the Italian goalkeeper Pietro Terracciano twice more. Vanaken, the best man in blue-black, continued alone, but saw his place ball deflected into a corner by the visiting goalie. That corner ultimately ended up with Igor Thiago, but the Brazilian striker was also unable to brighten up his impending farewell with a historic European goal. Due to the draw, after the 3-2 defeat in the first leg in Florence, Club misses the opportunity to play a European final for the third time in its existence.
“We are left with mixed feelings because a detail decides the match,” responded Club coach Nicky Hayen. “On the other hand, I also feel proud of what we showed in the first half. And I mean players, staff and supporters.”
Flannel legs
Boosted by a loud crowd, the home team showed the most decisiveness in the opening fifteen minutes, but the first big chance only came after more than twenty minutes. That was immediately good for a goal. Left back De Cuyper pushed through well between two Italians, Thiago kept track of the ball and Vanaken crossed to De Cuyper, who had stayed in the front. Delayed images did not show whether De Cuyper still influenced the trajectory of the ball, but Vanaken’s cross did hit the net. Club Brugge had already erased the deficit from the first leg after 21 minutes.
Goalkeeper Mignolet had warned in advance about Fiorentina’s poor play, which did not need to score and would suck the oxygen out of the match. Club’s lead canceled out that danger. But although Club could now play football more liberatingly, the quality of the game declined. Several Club players seemed to be playing with flannel legs and were not getting any rest in the game. Only the experience of captain Vanaken and the dueling power of Thiago kept Club afloat.
Fiorentina had to come and they did. A quality save from Mignolet was needed to keep Argentina’s star striker Nicolas Gonzalez from scoring. Last week, doubts were raised as to whether Mignolet should take over from Nordin Jackers in the blue-black goal. On Wednesday evening, the Jersey native showed why he should remain Club’s undisputed number one even at the age of 36.
Monday Union
Club got away well when Christian Kouamé (ex-Anderlecht) kicked a volley hard against the underside of the post, but the second half did not achieve enough to claim a second goal. It was Fiorentina that, without playing overwhelming football, had the best chances. Captain Cristiano Biraghi kicked a free kick against the crossbar, Kouamé even hit the goal post a third time with a header against the post.
Club coach Hayen brought in the disappointing Hugo Vetlesen, booked with a yellow card, for Philip Zickernagel. His compatriot Andreas Skov Olsen, who has a better personal action, would have been a better candidate. But the Dane backed out in the end due to hindrance and positioned himself among the hard core of Club. Skov Olsen therefore remains the man who just missed out for Club.
Only after Fiorentina came alongside from the penalty was Club able to threaten Terracciano. But the attempts of Vanaken and Thiago no longer caused any concern. Fiorentina will play the final of the Conference League for the second year in a row, against the Greek Olympiacos or the English Aston Villa. Club Brugge now has five days to lick its wounds. On Monday they can take another step towards the national title in the home match against Union.
“Disappointment is now prevalent, but the open curtain we received from the crowd after the match should give us motivation for the remaining matches of the season,” said Hayen. “Fatigue certainly played a role in the second half. You can’t deny that we had already used a lot of intensity and energy before half time. But you also have to say that we are going out against a strong opponent. What matters to me is that after the disappointing first leg, we saw the real Club Brugge, especially in the first half. No one has to blame themselves tonight. Not even Brandon Mechele who caused the penalty.”
