Cercle Brugge vs Antwerp 2-1

Cercle Brugge beat Antwerp 2-1 at Jan Breydel Stadium after T. Akinsola scored twice, with the second goal proving decisive after Antwerp halved the deficit late on.

The first half finished goalless, and Cercle Brugge were forced into an early change on 13 minutes when G. Magnee replaced T. Adaramola. Antwerp picked up three bookings before the break, for C. Mejia on 30 minutes, S. Porozo on 37 and M. Compper three minutes into first-half stoppage time, leaving it 0-0 at the interval.

Akinsola opened the scoring in the 48th minute from S. Ngoura’s pass, then doubled Cercle Brugge’s lead on 61 minutes, again assisted by Ngoura, to make it 2-0. Antwerp made two changes on 63 minutes and another double substitution on 74 minutes, and M. Fofana, who had come on on 74 minutes, pulled one back on 81 minutes from B. Deuff’s assist. Cercle Brugge then made three changes on 71 minutes and a further switch on 83 minutes to see out the closing stages, with Antwerp unable to find an equaliser.

The numbers pointed to an away side with more of the ball, as Antwerp had 59% possession, 454 passes and 82% pass accuracy against Cercle Brugge’s 41%, 312 passes and 70%. Antwerp also had more shots, 15 to 10, and more expected goals, 2.36 to 0.71, but Cercle Brugge had the edge on target, 5-4, and led the corners 4-3. Cercle Brugge made two saves, Antwerp three, while Antwerp also committed more fouls, 14 to 8.

Antwerp’s bookings went to C. Mejia on 30 minutes, S. Porozo on 37, M. Compper on 45+2, A. Cortes on 67, Y. Tsunashima on 79 and T. Nozawa on 90+8. Cercle Brugge finished with no yellow cards.