Absolute heartbreak for Club Brugge at Antwerp. Having taken the lead through Hans Vanaken and dominant throughout the game, Club nonetheless suffered defeat by the absolute end of the game after goals by Doumbia and Chery.
The Eleven that had done so well at Manchester City manned the pitch at Antwerp, with ball possession from minute one this time. A flurry of chances soon followed: a fine combination on the left helped Tzolis to a shot, but a fine reflex by Lammens (not the last time today) neutralised the deflected effort. A bit later, De Cuyper steamed towards the goal line, but this time Jutglà was unable to get a touch to it to send it home. The hosts remained stuck to their solid organisation, but left their defensive positions a first time well after ten minutes, as Valencia was offered some room, but the Ecuador winger saw his shot blocked.
Club clearly had the better of the game, and again came inches short of opening the score, as Talbi intercepted a bad Janssen pass, but Lammens again flew to Antwerp's aid. What was trickling down bit by bit finally came after 23 minutes: Seys neatly passing it on to Talbi on the right wing, cleaverly going past Van Den Bosch, and seeing his cross chip off Alderweireld into the eager feet of Hans Vanaken who did not hesitate and made it 0-1.
A still dominant Club started lowering the pace somewhat, but more than a shot easily grabbed by Mignolet was not in it for Antwerp, while Club also kept coming through Onyedika seeing his shot saved by Lammens, while Vanaken headed Tzolis' corner kick just wide. The last chance was for the hosts, but to no avail as Kerk aimed his effort high over.
The second half saw a more ardent Antwerp, but the first real threat again was signed by the visitors, as Lammens proved the better of a deflected shot by Jutglà. A bit later Tzolis saw his sharp cross to find Talbi all alone in front of goal cleared just in the knick of time, while Jashari saw his long range effort go over. The best chance to create some more breathing room came after ten minutes: Jutglà with the great ball to put Tzolis eye-to-eye with Lammens, but the goalie managaed to get a touch to the ball, and Van Den Bosch cleared it before it trickled over the goal line.
The lead remained narrow, also after Jutglà's great shot ended up against the outside of the post. Antwerp tried once more through Kerk, but this time Ordóñez got back just in time to clear the ball, only to follow up with an attempt to make it 0-2, but the defender came just too late to make the most of De Cuyper's cross. A bit later two newcomers, Nielsen and Nilsson, also faultered in view of goal, the latter aiming at Lammens from extremely close range. And still it was not over, as Vanaken's header upon a corner kick ended up in the hands of a by now unbeatable Lammens.
With full time in clear view now, Club seemed to be reeling in that well deserved win, but just like last season the last five minutes of the game flipped it all upside down. Making some space for himself, Doumbia tried his luck from way out, and saw the rocket end up in the top right hand corner (1-1). Adding salt to injury, Kerk picked out Chery in the back of the Club defense, and the Dutchman slotted it in under a disparate Mignolet (2-1). Who would have thought after such a performance, but Blue and Black remain empty handed, seeing leaders Genk widen the gap to six points.
Jupiler Pro League – Match Day 24
Audience: 16,000 – Bosuil Stadium
Ref: Lawrence Visser
Royal Antwerp FC: Senne Lammens – Semm Renders (79’ Youssef Hamdaoui), Toby Alderweireld, Zeno Van Den Bosch, Olivier Deman – Denis Odoi, Tjaronn Chery (90+3’ Rosen Bozhinov), Mahamoudou Doumbia - Anthony Valencia (61’ Farouck Adekami), Vincent Janssen, Gyrano Kerk.
Coach: Jonas De Roeck.
Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet – Joaquin Seys, Joel Ordóñez (90+2’ Hugo Vetlesen), Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (80’ Casper Nielsen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken - Chemsdine Talbi (80’ Michał Skóraś), Ferran Jutglà (64’ Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis (90+2’ Romeo Vermant). Bench: Nordin Jackers, Dani van den Heuvel, Zaid Romero, Hugo Siquet en Kyriani Sabbe.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: De Cuyper, Vanaken, Adekami, Chery.
Red: none
Goals: 23’ Vanaken (0-1), 86’ Doumbia (1-1), 90’ Chery (2-1).