A first match ball for Club Brugge, as it made its way to KV Mechelen on the second to last match day of these Champions' Playoffs. A brilliant set-up lead to a lead for Club through Tzolis, but in the second half, KV Mechelen drew level through van Brederode. Club's fans again rejoiced soon after as Tresoldi fired in the 1-2, but with just a few minutes to go van Brederode equalized again. With Union held at bay at AA Gent, however, Club managed to hold on to its unsurmountable four point lead. The title laurels are once again for Club, a 20th national title for coach Ivan Leko's squad.
On a night to remember, Club took firm hold of the reigns in the league sending Union off 5-0 just last Sunday. A massive step forward, but the last bit of work still had to be done away from home at KV Mechelen. Coach Leko opted for the same eleven that had proven so brilliantly against Union, meaning van den Heuvel was in goal once again, with the three up front consisting of an in-form Forbs, Tzolis and Tresoldi.
As is often the case, title deciding games can be a strenuous bunch, and this one was no different, with a hesitant and cautious start from the two sides in the opening few minutes. Just five minutes in, however, Club seemed to be on its way to the perfect start as Forbs put it past De Wolf from close range, but preceding off-side halted the visitors' celebrations. The home team responded with an indirect free kick inside the Bruges sixteen, blocked by Seys. A few minutes later, another excellent opportunity followed for Club, but this time De Wolf went well flat on Vetlesen's shot across the goalmound. Club kept surging forward, and another fine attack ended up with Vetlesen, finding Stanković on the edge of the box, but his blast was too central to really put De Wolf to the test. Some fine chances Club really needed to capitalise on, but these days Club can always rely on its menace from Greek to open it up. A clever ball by Siquet found Tresoldi with his back towards goal, teeing up Tzolis who had one millisecond to aim his shot, sending it beautifully out of reach of a hapless De Wolf to put Club in front (0-1).
Halfway through the first half, it was clear that the visitors were in firm control of the game, with KV Mechelen unable to threaten van den Heuvel. 35 minutes in, Club edged forward once more, the Mechelen defense trying to clear the ball, but it ended up with Tzolis first before it got to Tresoldi, but in the end the goalie could easily intervene. Shortly after, the visitors again put on a wonderful combination through Stanković and Tzolis who eventually reached Vetlesen on the edge of the box. The latter then played aside for Forbs, got the ball back and unfortunately ended up kicking it just wide of target. The home team finally found its way forward, and a corner kick by Van Brederode got deviated by Salifou, forcing van den Heuvel into a save, pushing it back into corner kick.
The same names on the pitch at both sides in the second half, and again it was Club that immediately went in search of that liberating second goal. Vetlesen played the ball nicely to Forbs, but the Portuguese winger did not manage to get past De Wolf from close range. Out of nothing, however, the score was in balance. Boersma passed the ball to van Brederode, who pushed forward and eventually kicked towards goal, the ball getting the deftest of deflections by Mechele, causing van den Heuvel to be surprised and see the equalizer go through his legs into goal. Not taken aback, the visitors created another chance for Stanković who ran in deep, but De Wolf was well out of the way and neutralized the danger. This proved to be only a stay of execution, as one minute later a new Bruges lead was on the scoreboard! First, Seys blocked a ball and then got the leather against his hand, but not enough to award a penalty. Things went quickly then as Tzolis played the ball aside for Tresoldi, hammering in the 1-2 past De Wolf. Club was now again in full control, able to poke and prod from time to time. For example, Mechele was able to head on a corner kick, but he saw the ball end up over goal. Soon after, it was Tresoldi who was able to put his head against the ball on a cross from Forbs, but this time De Wolf came up with an excellent save. Moments later, Tzolis sprinkled an excellent pass to Forbs, who first cut out his opponent well, but then Marsa still slid his effort into a corner kick.
Halfway through the second half, several substitutions were made on both sides, including Sandra and Vermant coming on for Vetlesen and Tresoldi. Meanwhile there was another good opportunity for the home team, but from a sharp angle Koudou kicked the ball over goal from close range. Moments later, Hammar tried his luck on a dropped ball, but he failed to frame his shot. With 85 minutes played, van den Heuvel had to intervene on a shot by Hammar, tapping the leather over. The corner kick that followed proved disastrous, however: van den Heuvel misjudging the ball and seeing it sail in goal (2-2). The goal proved a confidence booster to the home team and shortly after, Raman went in deep, but he popped wide of the goal from a sharp angle.
A true nailbiter followed with five minutes of extra time, while Club also kept an eye out for the score line in Gent, where Union had taken the lead, forcing Club to postpone the celebrations until next Sunday, but that goal was eventually disallowed due to offside. In the end, both Club and Union kept it at a draw, allowing Club to finally claim that second star above the badge with a twentieth league title!
Champions' Play-offs - Match Day 9
Audience: 16,000 - AFAS Stadium
Referee: Mr. Simon Bourdeaud'hui
KV Mechelen: Ortwin De Wolf - Massimo Decoene, Redouane Halhal, José Marsà (86' Gora Diouf) - Thérence Koudou (78' Bill Antonio), Fredrik Hammar, Dikeni Salifou (68' Benito Raman), Mathis Servais - Kerim Mrabti (78' Mory Konaté), Bouke Boersma, Myron van Brederode.
Bench: Tijn Van Ingelgom, Gora Diouf, Mory Konaté, Bilal Bafdili, Benito Raman, Ian Struyf, Keano Vanrafelghem, Mauro Lenaerts, Bill Antonio.
Coach: Frederik Vanderbiest.
Club Brugge: Dani van den Heuvel - Hugo Siquet (82' Jorne Spileers), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Joaquin Seys - Aleksandar Stanković, Hugo Vetlesen (78' Cisse Sandra), Hans Vanaken - Carlos Forbs, Nicolò Tresoldi (78' Romeo Vermant), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Nordin Jackers, Bjorn Meijer, Jorne Spileers, Kyriani Sabbe, Raphael Onyedika, Cisse Sandra, Mamadou Diakhon, Romeo Vermant, Gustaf Nilsson.
Coach: Ivan Leko.
Yellow: Siquet, Mrabti, Spileers.
Red: None
Goals: 17' Tzolis (0-1), 48' van Brederode (1-1), 51' Tresoldi (1-2), 87' van Brederode (2-2)