Blauw-Zwart draws 1-1 with OH Leuven | OneFootball

Blauw-Zwart hosted OH Leuven on matchday 18 of the Jupiler Pro League. Club was the better side in the first half and deservedly took the lead, minutes before the half-time interval when Jutglà slotted home from the penalty spot. In the second half both sides created chances to score, but it were the visitors who managed an equalizer in the last minute of stoppage time.

After Wednesday's cup debacle against Sint-Truiden, it was hard to predict which players coach Hoefkens would pick for his starting eleven. The strongest possible eleven had played the cup game, so there was just the one change: Lang, who suffered from a minor hamstring injury, did the warm-up but felt not ready to start the game. He was replaced by Sowah.

The most striking name for the opposition was Ricca, who played for Club last season.

Club Brugge started the game lively. Blauw-Zwart hogged the ball and OH Leuven sat back plugging the gaps, with very few clear-cut chances being created as a result.

Ten minutes in, Club created a first good chance when Sylla rose highest to meet with Nielsen's free-kick, but the header ended up in Cojocaru's arms. Five minutes later the central defender tried again - this time he tried it from just outside the penalty area, but he slipped and the ball went high and wide.

Blauw-Zwart strengthened its grip on the game. Halfway the first half Meijer whipped in a good cross in front of goal which just evaded Vanaken. A few minutes later the OH Leuven goalie did have to intervene. Sowah tried it from the edge of the area, but his effort was too central to beat Cojocaru.

Club kept the pressure on. Nielsen headed a ball into the path of Jutglà who's, left-footed strike was palmed away and a few minutes later Nielsen's shot flew wide. Shortly before the half-time interval Club managed to open the scoring. Buchanan was hooked inside the penalty area by Mendyl and after a VAR check, the referee pointed to the spot. Jutglà behind the ball and he rolled it in.

Club started the second with the same eleven, while OHL coach Brys made one change: Suleiman came on for Thorsteinsson.

The first chance of the second half was for the visitors. Club failed to clear a free-kick and Maertens fired it at goal from edge of the the penalty area. Mignolet kept it out with a good reflex save, the rebound was cleared off the line by Meijer. Club responded swiftly through Jutglà, but he slipped as he tried to get his second of the afternoon with a left-footed finish.

It was a lively spell with chances for both sides and OH Leuven were improving. De Norre aimed it towards the far corner, but it went wide. Just past the hour mark Buchanan tried his luck, but his volley ended up in the arms of Cojocaru.

Carl Hoefkens made a first double change after seventy minutes, by bringing on Boyata and Nusa for Sylla and Nielsen. Five minutes later Onyedika was given a lot of time and space, but his shot was stopped by Cojocaru.

Club still had to be aware of OH Leuven. A deflected shot by Nsingi surprised Mignolet, but it went just wide. On the other side of the pitch Nusa's effort went just wide as well. The blue and black were a couple of times dangerous on the break through Jutglà, but he was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle by a defender and goalkeeper Cojocaru.

With five minutes of stoppage time Club focussed on defending the lead, but unfortunately the visitors managed to score the equalizer. Schrijver's low cross fell before Nsingi who slotted home from close range. A bitter pill to swallow for Club, who get a chance to roll up their sleeves shortly after the New Year against league leaders KRC Genk.

Jupiler Pro League – Matchday 18 Attendance: 29.042 – Jan Breydelstadion Referee: Bert Put Club Brugge: Simon Mignolet –  Clinton Mata, Brandon Mechele, Abakar Sylla (69’ Dedryck Boyata), Bjorn Meijer – Casper Nielsen (69’ Antonio Nusa), Raphael Onyedika, Hans Vanaken - Kamal Sowah, Tajon Buchanan, Ferran Jutglà Bench: Nick Shinton, Senne Lammens, Éder Balanta, Denis Odoi, Cyle Larin, Dedryck Boyata, Antonio Nusa, Lynnt Audoor, Cisse Sandra. Coach: Carl Hoefkens. OH Leuven: Valentin Cojocaru – Louis Patris (82, Ewoud Pletinckx, Federico Ricca, Hamza Mendyl – Casper De Norre, Kristiyan Malinov (69’ Nachon Nsingi), Mathieu Maertens (89’ Raphael Holzhauser), Sofian Kiyine – Jon Dagur Thorsteinsson (46’ Mohammad Suleiman), Mario Gonzalez. Bench: Nordin Jackers, Joren Dom, Siebe Schrijvers, Raphael Holzhauser, Mohammad Suleiman, Mandela Keita, Nachon Nsingi. Coach: Marc Brys.

Yellow cards: Thorsteinsson, Mata, Malinov, Sylla, Onyedika Red cards: none Goals: 44’ Jutglà (1-0), 90+4’ Nsingi (1-1)