Beating Anderlecht 2-1 in yesterday's Cup Final, Club Brugge added a twelfth Belgian Cup to its List of Honours. MVP was without a doubt Romeo Vermant, scoring both Club goals at the King Baudouin.
The team that had beaten AA Gent so emphatically on Thursday saw three changes, as Nicky Hayen recovered Onyedika from suspension and gave Jutglà the nod a the expense of Talbi. During warm-up, Sabbe was forced to give the tie a miss due to an injury, making way for Hugo Siquet. With Simon Mignolet not ready to claim his spot between the posts, Nordin Jackers again put on the gloves just like in all prior cup ties so far.
Club's last Cup win dated ten years ago, also against Anderlecht, and the "hosts" grabbed their opponents by the throat from the very beginning. One minute in, an excellent chance to open the score came to Jutglà but his volley upon a corner kick went just wide. The initiative remained for Blue & Black, setting up camp on Anderlecht's side, and a few slight chances followed: Coosemans parried a hard shot by Tzolis, Jutglà was unable to make the most of a fine attack on the break, a low Tzolis cross did not reach a team mate, and again Tzolis saw his shot go wide.
Twenty minutes into the game, Anderlecht started finding its way into the game, and a first threat came through Hazard, trying to make his way through the Club defense, but without success. On the other side of the pitch, Coosemans proved the better of a Jashari strike, and his counterpart Jackers was also called upon a first time to deny Huerta. A convalescing Anderlecht suffered a major blow, however, with just a few minutes to go in the first half: Siquet with the great cross from the right wing past the defense to find Romeo Vermant by the far post to tap in the opening goal (1-0). A second goal seemed in the making, but Jashari was unable to frame his shot.
Left with no other options, Anderlecht went on the lookout for the equaliser in the second half, and it took a focused Jackers to tap a deflected Edozie cross over, and a bit later that same Edozie fired over. Hardly impressed, Club pushed on and doubled its lead: Vermant appearing at the first post to get the perfect touch to a Tzolis cross to make it 2-0 for Club!
Those who were still hoping for a Purple & White Cup win saw their hopes smashed to pieces, as Anderlecht proved unable to unsettle Club. A strong free kick by Dendoncker, punched away by Jackers, was all that was in it initially, and Club even came closer to adding a third as Tzolis saw his shot first saved by Coosemans, and a second attempt ended in the side netting. Anderlecht then tried through Angulo, but his attempt went high over.
With added time just begun, Club failed to really put it to bed as Talbi, just on, put Tzolis through, but his effort was cleared just before it went in. The dying minutes came with a bit of tension, as Edozie pulled it back to find Luis Vazquez for the 2-1, but Club did not falter, adding another Croky Cup to its impressive list of silverware!
Croky Cup - Final
Attendance: 40,861 – King Baudouin Stadium
Ref: Mr. Jasper Vergoote
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers – Hugo Siquet (80’ Bjorn Meijer), Joel Ordóñez, Brandon Mechele, Maxim De Cuyper – Raphael Onyedika (74’ Hugo Vetlesen), Ardon Jashari, Hans Vanaken (74’ Chemsdine Talbi) - Christos Tzolis, Romeo Vermant (74’ Gustaf Nilsson), Ferran Jutglà (86’ Casper Nielsen).
Bench: Simon Mignolet, Axl De Corte, Zaid Romero, Michał Skóraś, Jorne Spileers en Lynnt Audoor.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
RSC Anderlecht: Colin Coosemans – Ali Maamar (68’ Mario Stroeykens), Lucas Hey, Jan-Carlo Simic, Moussa N’Diaye (68’ Jan Vertonghen) – Leander Dendoncker, Yari Verschaeren (83’ Luis Vazquez), César Huerta (68’ Nilson Angulo) – Thorgan Hazard, Kasper Dolberg, Samuel Edozie.
Coach: Besnik Hasi
Yellow: Onyedika, Vermant, Jutglà.
Red: none
Goals: 40’ Vermant (1-0), 61’ Vermant (2-0), 90+1’ Vazquez (2-1).