The stars, however, were not favorable for Club, which had traveled to St. Petersburg without strongholds Mignolet and Deli. Zenit had not lost a single game in-house this year. The aging Russians appeared in the first half but pale for the day.
A defensively shortened Club Brugge thus had the opportunity to grow in the game. The national champion did not withdraw his foot, but was punished for his bet with a few cheap yellow cards. It took a long time to wait for goal chances. Neither Zenit nor Club were able to play the other’s defense out of context.
Five minutes before half-time, the match suddenly thawed with a tight headbutt from Vanaken, Kerzjakov was alert. Moments later, a long distance shot from the same Vanaken swept off. A drawling Zenit answered with a central header from Lovren after a corner kick.
Zenit coach Semak blew more fire into his team during the break, while Club started playing more sloppily. Driussi shot just wide and Ricca cleverly cut Azmoun off after a tap from Dzjoeba. A few moments later Azmoun headed steel hard, but meters wide.
Just at that difficult moment the visitors struck. Dennis rolled Barrios’s bags on the back line. De Ketelaere was unable to finish twice, so Dennis did it himself. Shortly after that 0-1, Karavayev killed a golden chance of the equalizer. Club gasped and were lucky that Driussi could not decide because of a bump on the field.
The inevitable happened anyway, although it involved good luck. Lovren’s bunt hit the post and flew in from Horvath’s back. The goalkeeper, for the first time in goal at Club since a cup match against Francs Borains over a year ago, was not discouraged. The American saved a deviated shot from Wendel.
Clement kept three of his five possible bills in the bank, but that turned out to be the right choice. Deep in the added time, what didn’t work out last season. Vanaken and Vormer cleared the track for De Ketelaere, who scored 1-2 from close range. The whole of Club Brugge in ecstasy, because this victory can weigh heavily in the rest of the campaign.
