How did this even happen? Club beat itself to 1-0, after which it simply gave up the victory. This shouldn’t have happened – so many chances.
For those who didn’t see the match, this is not an article with a happy ending.
Enthusiasm is a beautiful quality, but at the same time you have to be careful with it. After his incredibly strong opening phase, we were almost ready to write that the still only 18-year-old Kyriani Sabbe can solve the Red Devils’ right back problem in the short term. However, Sabbe sank a little afterwards – he stepped on his breath. The positive must absolutely dominate: Sabbe is doing well, Club must cherish him.
Strong start
In the first twenty minutes, a lot of danger came from the right, Sabbe’s flank. Vanaken headed the youngster’s cross onto the post, and afterwards two hot positions came via Sabbe before the clock showed fifteen minutes of play.
Club should always have taken the lead. Skoras, who started because Zinckernagel was ill, lacked the necessary lucidity – or quality, if you prefer – to react quickly enough in the box when Skov Olsen released him. Thiago should have done better with a pass from Skoras: the striker clumsily shot wide.
Those from Besiktas were just not calling for their mother – Club was that dominant. Until suddenly…
The first half was not half way when Günok, the goalkeeper of the Turks, needed injury treatment. Besiktas coach Günes, assistant to Georges Leekens on a blue Monday and therefore familiar with the tricks of the foor, took advantage of the break to bring half of his team to the sidelines. Just make some adjustments. It paid off: Besiktas gained more traction.
From then on it was mostly soft until the break. Club was in a good position, the defense did not encounter any problems, but it was no longer possible to be really dangerous. There was a shot from Skov Olsen – that’s it.
Misses everywhere
While the accompanying Turkish journalists started smoking like a Turk, the Club players apparently refueled their energy during the break. Apart from a slip by Spileers – Mignolet stood firm – Club started strong again. The great possibilities piled up one after another. Vanaken was able to head, Thiago played it poorly, but these were not misses. The chances of Thiago and Skov Olsen were – it was a miracle that the score remained 0-0.
Let me outline how that went. After an infiltration by De Cuyper, Thiago was able to push in from very close range, but he failed to do so. Skov Olsen, on the other hand, was only allowed to score from around the penalty point. He found Günok on his way.
Club showed great drive and enthusiasm, with De Cuyper as an exponent. As a left back, the curly haired man has so far confirmed all the good things he showed last season. Sabbe & De Cuyper: both backs, young, Belgian, self-trained and talented – nice to see.
In fact, there was little to criticize about Club, except that the spectacle score remained on the board. Of course, scoring is a fundamental part of the game of football – in that sense it wasn’t good enough until then.
Once again Skov Olsen failed to make it 1-0. Günok saved the day again. It was hard to believe.
Goal Vanaken, miss Nielsen
It was almost inevitable that the goal would be scored. It happened too. Skov Olsen – a man who is sometimes cursed at but who offers so much quality – started off and found Vanaken. He had no doubts: 1-0.
The most difficult thing seemed to have happened just like that, and yet it still went wrong. Nielsen delivered a hospital ball, after which Cenk Tosun was able to equalize (1-1) face to face with Mignolet. Club claimed that a foul had been committed on Vanaken beforehand – he was effectively standing there with a bleeding face. The ref and VAR did not go along with that story.
Nielsen did not perform well against Charleroi and again he did not offer any fresh impulses. Let’s just say…
Club starts this Conference League on a downer. Given its excess weight, it should always have won the three points. It would have been deserved too, instead there was now a downer.
Should Club be worried? No. Should Club reward itself in such a situation? Absolute. Shame.