The first leg of the Croky Cup Semis proved a nervy game, with Club Brugge overcoming a 0-1 setback to make it a 2-1 home win at the expense of league leaders KRC Genk.
Not much need for reshuffling in Nicky Hayen's Starting XI, with only one change: Jackers coming on for Mignolet under the bar, just like in the earlier Cup encounters. This meant Talbi and Jutglà retained their spot, and they were also the ones behind the first real threat of the game, as Sadick was able to put a sharp cross by Talbi over just before Jutglà could send it home. Further Club efforts came from Talbi and Jashari, both trying their luck from afar, but eagerly saved by Chelsea signing Penders.
Apart from a scare when Heynen came just too late to tap in Smets' cross, Club's fiery start continued, and the best chance to open the score came halfway through, as Jashari's great through ball allowed Tzolis to push on through the left, but the Greek was unable to find Jutglà in front of goal. The opening goal was up in the air, but it came on the wrong side of the pitch, as Steuckers neatly found Tolu in front of goal, outsmarting Ordonez to the ball to make it 0-1 against the run of play.
Not taken aback, Club earned a corner kick, which was curled to the far post by Tzolis to find that same Joel Ordóñez to put the score in balance (1-1) with a timely header. By the end of an eventful first half, Genk had two more goas at goal: Jackers first got his hands to Kayembe's shot, and a bit later El Ouahdi's attempt went well wide.
The second half again showed the same reflection, with Club most interested in grabbing that win and Genk trying not to be lured out of its organisation. A Steuckers free kick ended up against the wall, while Mechele beat Tolu just in time before he could capitalise on Kayembe's cross. Club paid heed to the alarm signals, and started matters in hand again. Vanaken came just too late to make the most of Sabbe's cross, and saw another effort blocked with perfect timing a bit later. A shot by Jutglà was also to no avail, while Kayembe again managed to block Vanaken's shot after some close combining inside the Genk box.
With twenty minutes on the clock, Sadick seemed to be tapping Jutglà against the foot inside the box, but ref Visser waved play on before being called to the screen by VAR finding the Genk defender at fault. A spot kick was rewarded, and Christos Tzolis did not fall into the trap set by Penders, sending it home in the middle of goal to score that vital 2-1. With Genk trying to thwart defeat, Club saw more space freeing up on the break, but was unable to widen the gap. A small margin for Club after that first leg, which means the second leg will be a nailbiter in three weeks.
Belgian Cup – Semi finals (first leg)
Audience: 22,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Lawrence Visser
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers – Kyriani Sabbe (80’ Bjorn Meijer), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (80’ Casper Nielsen), Ardon Jashari – Chemsdine Talbi (64’ Michał Skóraś), Hans Vanaken, Christos Tzolis (86’ Romeo Vermant) – Ferran Jutglà (86’ Gustaf Nilsson).
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Dani van den Heuvel, Jorne Spileers, Hugo Siquet and Hugo Vetlesen.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
KRC Genk: Mike Penders – Zakaria El Ouahdi, Mujaid Sadick (75’ Carlos Cuesta), Matte Smets, Joris Kayembe – Ibrahima Sory Bangoura, Patrik Hrošovský (75’ Konstantinos Karetsas), Bryan Heynen - Jarne Steuckers, Tolu Arokodare (75’ Hyeon-gyu Oh), Christopher Bonsu Baah (75’ Noah Adedeji-Sternberg).
Coach: Thorsten Fink.
Yellow: Sadick, Baah, Bangoura, Vanaken, De Cuyper, Vermant.
Red: none
Goals: 28’ Tolu (0-1), 34’ Ordóñez (1-1), 74’ Tzolis (pen., 2-1).
