It doesn’t have to be pretty at this stage, does it? Club Brugge was anything but top against red lantern (and relegated) Seraing, but goals from Jutgla and Nusa were enough to put the pressure back on AA Gent: 2-0. It will be very exciting for that fourth place.
A banner with “Our blue-black heart is bleeding” was rolled out in the North Stand. It obviously had nothing to do with the standings, but everything with the death of club icon Birger Jensen. The minute of applause for the former keeper was also more than appropriate.
Then the match. A must-win game for Club, that much was clear. Also for Seraing, by the way, because it needed three points to have a chance of preserving. Easy to say, when you’ve only had five wins all season and barely scored 26 times – the fewest of any team. Even now, the Liège team just collapsed, lurking on the counter, but it took 24 minutes before they were ‘dangerous’ for the first time. Lahssaini’s shot went wide.
Guillaume Dietsch stops Jutgla.
Foto: Isosport
Torment devil Dietsch
Admittedly, things weren’t much better at Club. Both on and off the field there was little enthusiasm and the chances were scarce at first. Some attempts from the second line of Onyedika, Jutgla and Lang: that was it. Rik De Mil had said in advance that it was important to demolish the wall, but his team – with Meijer instead of Buchanan as the only change – failed to do so. Only halfway through the first half did that opening goal hang in the air. Jutgla was first blocked, then headed over a corner and when Rits kicked the perfect cross, he nodded hard towards goal, but too centrally, allowing Dietsch to tap the ball away from under the bar with a cat jump. That should have been 1-0.
Guillaume Dietsch, Club’s tormentor for rest. The 21-year-old Frenchman had to turn around five more times against AA Gent a week ago – when he had invited fifty friends – but now he was the man. He also whipped Vanaken’s perfectly aimed header out of the square in a great way. Not a Seraing fan who had seen it live, because it was combi arrangement but there were no buses. Those of Club, meanwhile, swore again.
Vermant first
After the break, Lang quickly claimed a penalty, but the possible foul happened outside the box and Wim Smet did not budge anyway. A little later, the Dutchman came in and took a swing, but again Dietsch stood firm. Then switch, to bring some more swing. With Skov Olsen, Nusa and Buchanan, known offensive violence was on the bench, but De Mil again chose 19-year-old Romeo Vermant to replace the injured Nielsen. Even in precarious situations, the coach therefore plays the youth card.
Lang was initially difficult on Smet, but the referee gave good ball advantage at the goal.
Foto: Isosport
We are not going to claim that it was a golden substitution – that would be silly – but look: two minutes later Club finally scored that redeeming goal. Thanks also to the referee, because after the foul on Lang he rightly allowed play to continue, allowing Jutgla to blast the ball into the far corner with his left. The tenth league goal for the Spanish striker, and whether it was good.
It was now a matter of killing the game, because you never know. Fifteen minutes before the end there was suddenly a huge chance for the visitors, who were ready with three men, but Lahssaini aimed at the back of Mata’s head. It was the only time that it was a squeeze for Club, which made it 2-0 in the absolute final phase. Not via Skov Olsen or Onyedika, who both hit the post, but via Nusa. It wasn’t a great match, but mission accomplished. While Seraing is relegated, the pressure for the Champions’ play-offs is again on AA Gent, which will play against Union this weekend.
