Jupiler Pro League
Club Brugge can breathe easy again after a big 0-3 victory at Racing Genk. The Limburgers will decide with AA Gent, Cercle Brugge and KV Mechelen which two teams will fall out of the top six.
Ronny Deila had thoroughly adjusted his team after the loss match against Union. Meijer and Nielsen started on the bench and the injured Mignolet, Balanta and Thiago were in the stands. Nusa was also not there against Union on Wednesday. Jackers, Odoi, Skoras, Onyedika and Vetlesen came into the starting line-up. Very different from Wouter Vrancken who did not change his Genk team after the 0-1 at Charleroi.
However, Club Brugge started the match best. Skov was able to print Olsen in the first minute. The West Flemish team had the most opportunities in the first half hour. Vandevoordt took attempts from Vanaken and Jutgla. Not much later, the Genk goalie had to turn around for the first time. A deep ball from Jutgla was taken by Vetlesen. Hrosovsky defended weakly and Vandevoordt was beaten.
Missed penalty
The lead was deserved, but the visitors could just as easily have been behind. Just after fifteen minutes, the busy Bonsu Baah hit Mechele’s foot and was awarded a penalty. After the Anderlecht story and the replay of that match, Heynen would rather not kick the ball anymore. Tolu missed one in the European preliminary round against Servette by chasing the ball high into the stands. Yet he took the eleven meter into account. Tolu kicked the chance for an equalizer wide.
It continued to weigh on the Nigerian throughout the match. He was present, but made many wrong decisions. He shot on target and later far wide while Heynen and Oyen were in a more promising position. A shot ended up in the hands of Jackers, who only really had to get to work at the end of the first half. Mignolet’s replacement collected good attempts from Bonsu Baah, El Khannouss and Cuesta.
After the break, Genk continued on the momentum of the end of the first half. Jackers had to roll up his sleeves again on an attempt by Tolu. That was his last achievement, because the Genk striker was replaced by Yira Sor, the match winner in Charleroi last week. The home team had most of the ball, but was not dangerous.
“Deila outside!”
Ronny Deila did not want to take any risks and replaced the more defensive-minded Meijer for midfielder Skoras. Jutgla, the only striker, was also allowed to rest after an hour. Nielsen took his place. The West Flemish team had to play without a striker for another half hour. These substitutions met with little approval from the public and earned the Club coach a ‘Deila outside!’ on.
The accompanying supporters were allowed to cheer again when Odoi headed a beautiful corner kick from De Cuyper past Vandevoordt (0-2). Genk’s heart sank. Heynen was surprised to kick over a great opportunity, but the spirit was gone. After a long discussion by the VAR about first whether or not offside and then hand play by Sor, Club Brugge was awarded a penalty. Skov Olsen kicked it in hard (0-3). A reassurance for the West Flemish people who this time did not have to fear that the traditional goal conceded in the final phase would mean a loss of points. That goal didn’t even happen now.
RACING GENK-CLUB BRUGES 0-3
Doelpunten: 26′ Vetlesen 0–1, 73′ Odoi 0–2, 85′ Skov Olsen 0–3
