Beerschot goes down 1-3 against Club Brugge and gets away with it well

It may sound a bit strange, but Beerschot was lucky on Friday evening. Lucky that it was only 0-1 against national champions Club Brugge after 45 minutes. Halfway through the first half, Lang had given the visitors the lead. An injudicious pass from Suzuki heralded the blue-black attack. The leather eventually ended up at the feet of the Dutch international, who turned away well and placed the opening goal perfectly in the corner.

Club Brugge in the lead and that would have taken a long time. Beerschot coach Greg Vanderidt had opted for a low block for the last home game in 1A, but that did not succeed in keeping the West Flemish away from the goal. On the contrary. Club Brugge did not suddenly have to press the accelerator to dominate the match. Skov Olsen made the nets vibrate for the first time after just four minutes, but his goal was rightly disallowed for offside. A header from Vanaken ended up on the crossbar.

Beerschot made a listless impression. The only one who was still a bit in the spotlight was Lejoly, just like against STVV between the posts. Sometimes it was a bit unorthodox, sometimes a bit with luck, on his own he made sure that the difference on the scoreboard remained limited for a long time. The 23-year-old goalkeeper first kept Skov Olsen and Rits from the opening goal twice. After the 0-1, Lang was close to a second goal. Skov Olsen curled the leather on the head of the Dutchman with a wonderful cross, again Lejoly stood in the way. When he had been knocked just before half time, Dom took the leather – a low slider from Skov Olsen – off the line.

Number five for Shankland

Such luck, it couldn’t last when you look so weak. The game was over ten minutes after the break. Not that Lejoly was much to blame. At the 0-2, the Kiel final piece had no chance after an unintended deviation by Rits on an attempt by Skov Olsen. The goal was credited to the ex-Beerschotter, to the disappointment of the Danish winger. Moments later, the Purple & White defense was completely out of context and Lejoly was alone against Vanaken and De Ketelaere. A simple job for the Red Devils, although CDK was offside in no time at all with his fourteenth goal of the season.

The match was over an hour away and Beerschot had not yet gotten a ball between the posts. Translated into expected goals: 0.07. So very little. And yet the Manneken were suddenly on the scoreboard. Thanks to a stupid mistake by substitute Hendry on the infiltrating Van den Bergh. Referee Brent Staessens put the ball on the spot, Shankland sent Mignolet the wrong way. His fifth goal of the season for the Scot. This puts him next to Dom in the Kiel top scorer list.

A wipe for the bleeding. The farewell to 1A in its own stadium could not have been much more painful. Or is it? Lejoly kept Rits from the 1-4 and Hendry almost made up for his mistake but hit the post. 1-3, Greg Vanderidt and co got away with it quite well.

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