Club Brugge has followed up its midweek CL win with a 2-0 home win against Sint-Truiden. Brandon Mechele put Club in front with a timely header just before the break, and Nicolò Tresoldi put the result beyond doubt, neatly finishing a fine Tzolis cross.
The team that had done so well against Monaco was changed in just the one position, Simon Mignolet being out injured for some time and replaced by Nordin Jackers. An elaborate study round saw a Club side struggling with the build-up, and it took some time before Forbs finally had a go, seeing his attempt go wide, and Tzolis saw his hard shot blocked just in time, and another Forbs attempt ended up against the side netting. The visiting organisation managed to keep Club at bay, and also had their minor moments through Vanwesemael and a Goto header.
Halfway through, the hosts decided to shift gears, resulting in some immediate threats. Tzolis seemed to slip by the goalkeeper, but Kokubo arrived just in time to tackle it away, and that same Kokubo had a great reflex in store to deny Tresoldi's promising shot. Moments later, ref D’Hondt waved play on as Tresoldi went down too easily inside the box.
With the coffee already served in the dressing rooms, Club had two more opportunities, as Meijer first saw his shot from well out obliterate the crossbar, and later on Tzolis produced a great cross to find Brandon Mechele in front of goal, heading in the opener in the game where he was lauded for his 500th game at Club (played earlier on away at Rangers): what a way to start the celebrations.
A fervent Club kept coming in the second half, asking Kokubo all kinds of questions as shots by Sabbe and Tzolis tested the goalie, but upon the hour mark, the STVV goalie was undone as Tzolis played it in perfectly to find Tresoldi in front of goal, eagerly tucking in the 2-0.
Done and dusted! The visitors proved unable to find their way back in the game, even if Jackers was called upon to deny Ferrari's header and block a firm shot by Diriken. Club came close to adding a third but efforts by Tzolis, Stanković and Nilsson all went missing. In added time, Diakhon was sent deep with space to offer, but the Frenchman was unable to find a fellow Club player.
Jupiler Pro League – Match day 8
Audience: 26,000 – Jan Breydel Stadium
Ref: Mr. Lothar D’Hondt
Club Brugge: Nordin Jackers – Kyriani Sabbe (72’ Joaquin Seys), Joel Ordóñez (72’ Jorne Spileers), Brandon Mechele, Bjorn Meijer – Aleksandar Stanković (83’ Cisse Sandra), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken – Carlos Forbs (72’ Mamadou Diakhon), Nicolò Tresoldi (77’ Gustaf Nilsson), Christos Tzolis.
Bench: Dani van den Heuvel, Hugo Siquet, Lynnt Audoor, Hugo Vetlesen.
Coach: Nicky Hayen.
Sint-Truiden VV: Leo Kokubo – Rein Van Helden, Shogo Taniguchi, Visar Musliu, Taiga Hata – Robert-Jan Vanwesemael (77’ Kaito Matsuzawa), Rihito Yamamoto, Abdoulaye Sissako (83’ Alouis Diriken), Arbnor Muja (64’ Andrés Ferrari), Ilias Sebaoui (83’ Isaias Delpupo) – Keisuke Goto.
Coach: Wouter Vrancken
Yellow: Van Helden, Vanwesemael, Onyedika.
Red: none
Goals: 45’ Mechele (1-0), 59’ Tresoldi (2-0).