The Club de Bruges moved provisionally to the top of the standings after a 4-2 victory against Zulte Waregem at the Gaverbeek, reaching 27 points from 30. The side secured the three points by overwhelming the hosts with three goals in a frantic 15-minute spell before halftime, extending their winning run in the domestic championship to six matches.
Bruges Strikes Early and Overwhelms Zulte Waregem Before Halftime
The visitors opened the scoring in the third minute when Hugo Vetlesen capitalized on loose defending inside the penalty area to make it 0-1. Zulte Waregem absorbed intense pressure while remaining largely confined to their own half, struggling to string passes together across the centerline. Despite the early setback, the hosts equalized against the run of play when Tobias Hedl slotted past the Bruges defense to level the score at 1-1.
ZULTE WAREGEM – CLUB BRUGES: ONZE ANS DE DISETTE !La dernière fois que Zulte Waregem a battu les Blauw en Zwart devant son public c’était en août 2015.Les locaux l’avaient emporté sur le score de deux buts à zéro, avec des réalisations signées Mbaye Leye et Bryan Verboom.… pic.twitter.com/FATMeY4zAS
That parity lasted barely a minute. The match turned decisively during a sudden flurry just before the break. Carlos Forbs restored the visitors’ lead at 1-2 in the 32nd minute, and Nicolo Tresoldi extended the advantage to 1-3 in the 37th minute. Hans Vanaken capped a sweeping attacking move right on the stroke of halftime in the 45th minute, sending Bruges into the dressing room with a commanding 1-4 lead.
Second-Half VAR Checks and Hedl’s Second Goal Seal the Scoreline
The second half featured considerably less attacking intensity as Bruges shifted into a game-management posture. Two separate VAR reviews handled by referee Lawrence Visser occurred. The first review examined a potential handball by Thomas Claes inside the penalty area, resulting in no penalty awarded. A second VAR check examined a possible handball before the 1-4 of Hans Vanaken, with Visser ultimately confirming the goal as valid.
Zulte Waregem continued to press for openings, and Tobias Hedl completed his brace in the 58th minute by scoring to make it 2-4. The second goal from Hedl failed to spark a broader comeback among the home ranks. Michael Baele’s side created a few late half-chances, but the visitors comfortably saw out the remaining minutes to secure the victory.
Standings Implications and Next Fixtures
With the win, the Blauw & Zwart sit on 27 points out of a possible 30, placing them two points clear of Gent at the summit of the table. Zulte Waregem remains in 10th position with 11 points following the result. The team prepares for their next domestic fixture while maintaining their position at the top of the standings.
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