While Manchester United drew to Newcastle at home on Saturday, Club Brugge looked to bounce back from their Champions League blues away at Zulte Waregem in the Pro League on the same day, having taken the lead against United at Old Trafford through a Michael Carrick own goal before succumbing to a 3-1 defeat in the first leg of their play-off tie.
However, they didn’t fare any better, losing 2-0 to Zulte at the Regenboogstadion through a penalty by Senegalese striker Mbaye Leye and a late goal from defender Bryan Verboom.
Club manager Michel Preud’homme had some shuffling to do, having lost captain Timmy Simons to injury during the game at Old Trafford. In a surprise selection, defender Jean-Charles Castelletto was given his debut in an unfamiliar position, partnering Ruud Vormer in defensive midfield, with usual replacement Claudemir consigned to the bench.
Zulte took the lead with ten minutes played, although it was highly dubious. Brandon Mechele, who was sent off against the Reds on Tuesday night, brought down Christophe Lepoint outside the penalty area, but the referee pointed to the spot and Leye stepped up to put away the penalty.
Club had a golden opportunity to equalise midway through the first-half. Zulte goalkeeper Sammy Bossut spilled Castelletto’s cross, but midfielder Hans Vanaken somehow failed to score from point-blank range. On the stroke of half-time, left-back Laurens De Bock hit the post with a free-kick from range, and Club were pressing heavily for an equaliser.
However, it was Zulte that came out of the blocks quicker in the second half, with Mame Thiam having his goal disallowed for a foul in the build-up, while at the other end Victor Vázquez played in forward Abdoulay Diaby, but he was denied by a good save from Bossut.
Two Club substitutes combined to fashion another opportunity for the Blauw-Zwart, but winger Tuur Dierckx’s placed his header from Obbi Oularé cross centimetres wide. Moments later, Bossut had to be alert to tip Diaby’s shot wide.
The Blauw-Zwart failed to make their pressure count, and Zulte sealed their victory with seven minutes remaining, Verboom smashing home a rebound after Stephen Buyl had struck the left-hand post with a fierce shot.
Preud’homme bemoaned his side’s killer instinct after the game, saying: “With the exception for the start of the second half, we were in full control of the game. We tried to create something, and that worked out well at times. Their first infiltration resulted in the opener, however. We were finding the right solutions on the pitch position-wise, though. We were dominant, but not killer enough. Let’s say that the guys did what they had to for 80%, but at the end of the line, scoring goals is what counts.”
Club Brugge line-up (4-2-3-1): Bruzzese – De fauw, Duarte, Mechele, De Bock – Castelletto, Vormer (Oularé, 69) – Vanaken, Vázquez (Storm, 78), Bolingoli (Dierckx, 60) – Diaby
