Club Brugge secured a resounding 5-0 home win against Union. In a five star first half performance, the crowd at Jan Breydel watched with awe as Vanaken opened the score, only to see it followed by a goal by Seys and a header by that same Vanaken. In the closing stages, Tzolis and Forbs took care of a 5-0 final score. Thanks to this victory, Blue & Black is now four points ahead and can claim its twentieth national title at KV Mechelen on Thursday!
The team that had beaten STVV last weekend was changed in one position, Hugo Vetlesen reclaiming his place back from suspension. In goal, Dani van den Heuvel was given the nod. A vibrant Jan Breydel saw Club start off in fine fettle and a first threat soon followed as Tzolis cut inside but fired it high over. Moments later a shot by Tzolis was blocked and a corner kick created a double threat: a fine pass by Mechele was cleared just before the goal line and the rebound by Tresoldi also found an Union defender on the way.
Union's trademark defending once again proved the team's strongsuit, making it not easy for Club to find an opening. Twenty minutes in, Stanković got a good head to a Tzolis corner kick, but he saw his attempt clear on the way to what for sure would have been the opener. Scoring goals against Union is far from evident, but after half an hour Hans Vanaken showed how it should be done. And how! Tzolis finding the Club skipper with the teensiest of spaces just outside the box, but enough to deliciously pop it into the far corner out of reach for goalkeeper Scherpen (1-0). The goal gave Club wings: first Forbs just could not find Tzolis, but moments later Club's attacking efforts again proved fruitful as Forbs passed the ball perfectly into the path of Siquet in the overlap, whose cross ended up at the far post with Joaquin Seys, finishing in a controlled manner (2-0).
Union tried to react but got no further than a free kick from Zeneli, cleared by Van den Heuvel. Meanwhile, a whirling Club continued to counter with razor-sharp precision. First Vetlesen had a free shot opportunity, but his effort sailed over off Sykes. The crowd at Jan Breydel was catching its breath, and it still wasn't over just yet. Tzolis with another great corner kick, this time finding Hans Vanaken, who headed the ball into the goal via the underside of the crossbar (3-0).
After the break, the visitors tried fighting their way back into the match, with lots of duels between Ordóñez and his fellow Ecuadorian striker Rodriguez. When the striker eventually did get some space to shoot, the Club defender was just in the way. Biondic also tried twice, but first Van den Heuvel made a fine save and then his deflected shot hit the top of the crossbar.
Union continued to stubbornly look for a goal, but Club also continued to defend superbly. For example, a shot by Schoofs was blocked and an attempt by Fuseini went over goal. Meanwhile, Club lurked on the counter, but Forbs was unable to frame his shot well enough and a rocket by Siquet also flew centimeters over the crossbar. At the other end, attempts by Niang and Sykes were unsuccessful.
The crowd at Jan Breydel saw the victory coming closer and closer, and had gone in full on party mode. Adding more fuel to that energy, Spileers launched Tzolis, off on goal shaking off Zorgane, holding off El Hadj and neatly slotting in the 4-0. What would have been one of the goals of the season by Mac Allister, sending the ball with a bicycle kick over van den Heuvel, was disallowed for offside. In the absolute final seconds, Carlos Forbs finally made it 5-0 upon another clever assist by Tzolis. The win sends Club Brugge four points clear of Union. Next Thursday, Blauw-Zwart can clinch its twentieth national title by beating KV Mechelen!
Champions' Play-offs - Match day 8
Audience: 29,000 - Jan Breydel Stadium
Referee: Mr. Lothar D'Hondt
Club Brugge: Dani van den Heuvel - Hugo Siquet (75' Jorne Spileers), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković (75' Raphael Onyedika), Hugo Vetlesen (62' Cisse Sandra), Hans Vanaken (84' Bjorn Meijer) - Carlos Forbs, Nicolò Tresoldi (75' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Gustaf Nilsson, Lynnt Audoor and Mamadou Diakhon.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Union Sint-Gillis: Kjell Scherpen - Kevin Mac Allister - Christian Burgess, Ross Sykes - Anan Khalaili, Adem Zorgane, Kamiel Van de Perrre (61' Rob Schoofs), Besfort Zeneli (78' Anouar Aït El Hadj), Guilherme Smith (46' Ousseynou Niang) - Mateo Biondic (61' Mohammed Fuseini), Kevin Rodriguez (88' Raul Fl.
Coach: David Hubert.
Yellow: Sykes, Tzolis, Burgess.
Red: none
Goals: 31' Vanaken (1-0), 38' Seys (2-0), 45+1' Vanaken (3-0), 87' Tzolis (4-0), 90+4' Forbs (5-0).