A trip to the Stade du Pays was the not-so-evident job at hand for Club on Match Day 9 of the Jupiler Pro League. A first half peppered with some fine chances for the hosts ended goallesss, and things took a dramatic turn for the worse when Charleroi first opened the score through Guiagon, and Onyedika faced a red card moments later. In a tense final minutes of the game, Club managed to draw level through Vanaken.
The last week had produced some bizarre events at Club Brugge. Both against Borussia Dortmund and even more so against KAA Gent, Club had had the better of the game, with plenty of chances to win both ties. But as is usual the case, the team that misses the chances will not come out on top. Coach Hayen opted for stability, and held on to the same Starting XI at Charleroi. The most renowned name on Charleroi side was not on the pitch, but directed the team from the sidelines, as coach Rik De Mil also did not change the team that had drawn against Anderlecht.
Club did not came to defend, but it was Charleroi that had a first chance through left back Dragsnes, but his shot chipped off Mechele. With the two teams in balance, the first fifteen minutes went by rather uneventful, but then Skov Olsen put Tzolis through, producing a low cross towards Nilsson, but the Swede could not get a good touch to it, and the ball went just wide. The home side's intentions were clear: try to find Heymans up front with crosses, but without success.
Most industrious for the visitors was Tzolis, and as Vanaken left a pass by Mechele to run towards the Greek to fire away freely, goalkeeper Koné had to jump in to spectacularly float the opener out of his cage. Ten minutes later on, the goalie again saved the day: a deflected shot by Nilsson ended up with Tzolis who pulled back to the better positioned Vanaken, and the latter did everything he should to score, but again Koné proved in the way. One last chance was for Seys, but the young right back was unable to frame his attempt after a nice link-up with Skov Olsen.
The second half started with two fine chances for the home team: Camara's shot from outside the box was first neutralised by Mignolet, but a bit later the home fans were able to cheer a first time as Bernier pushed on through the wing, finding Guiagon inside the box, and the latter tricked it past Mignolet. Not taken aback, Tzolis now tried his luck towards the first post, but the ball ended up on the wrong side of the post. To make it an even higher mountain to climb for Club, ref Verboomen showed Onyedika a red card after bringing down Guiagon in what was a harsh decision. Despite the man down situation, Club now kept pushing for that equaliser. Tzolis found De Cuyper on the wing, and the left back tried from an acute angle but was unable to unsettle a focused Koné.
Club-coach Hayen tried to change his tack by bringing on Vermant and Nielsen, but not to much effect, as Charleroi again took over, with Guiagon proving a torment to the Club defense. A strong Mignolet kept Club in the game, producing excellent saves upon a Dabbagh close range effort, and when Guiagon fired away. Now with Skóraś and Sabbe also on, Club escaped further damage when Mignolet produced a miracle save to deny Dabbagh. A couple of minutes later, Club was now on the receiving end of bad luck, as Mechele was allowed to try for goal twice, but his shot bounced off the post.
Five minutes of added time turned golden for Club. De Cuyper with the surge on the wing and the fine cross, cleared by Ousou, but in the feet of Vanaken, who did not hesitate, and saw his shot come off Nzita in goal.
Jupiler
Pro League – Match Day 9
Audience: 15,000
– Stade
du Pays de Charleroi
Referee: Mr. Nathan
Verboomen
RSC
Charleroi: Mohamed
Koné – Jeremy Petris, Aiham Ousou, Stelios Andreou, Vetle Dragsnes
– Étienne Camara,
Adem Zorgane, Daan Heymans – Parfait Guiagon (84’
Isaac Mbenza),
Grejohn Kyei (67’
Oday Dabbagh),
Antoine Bernier (84’
Alexis Flips).
Bench:
Théo
Defourny, Check Keita, Zan Rogelj, Yassine Titraoui, Mardochée
Nzita, Isaac Mbenza, Alexis Flips, Youssuf Sylla, Oday
Dabbagh.
Coach:
Rik De Mil.
Club Brugge: Simon
Mignolet – Joaquin Seys
(82’ Kyriani Sabbe),
Brandon Mechele, Joel Ordóñez
(82’ Michał
Skóraś),
Maxim De Cuyper
– Raphael Onyedika,
Hugo Vetlesen (66’
Casper Nielsen), Hans Vanaken
– Andreas Skov Olsen (66’
Romeo Vermant), Gustaf
Nilsson, Christos Tzolis (88’
Chemsdine Talbi).
Bench:
Nordin Jackers, Dani van den
Heuvel, Zaid
Romero, Kyriani Sabbe, Ardon
Jashari, Casper
Nielsen, Chemsdine
Talbi, Michał
Skóraś,
Ferran
Jutglà, Romeo Vermant.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Yellow: Andreou,
Heymans, Guiagon,
Vermant
Red: Onyedika
Goals: 48’
Guiagon (1-0), 90+1’
Vanaken (1-1)