BRUJAS, Belgium (AP) – Charles de Ketelaere scored the opening match and won a penalty for Club Bruges to return to the Champions League with a 3-0 win over Zenit St. Petersburg on Wednesday.
The result put Bruges two points away from second-placed Lazio before their last Group F match in Rome next week, where the winner will advance. , last place, already out of action.
“We did a wonderful task today, now we have the opportunity to qualify,” Bruges goalkeeper Simon Mignolet said. “We are already qualified for the Europa League, the game in Rome is an advantage and we can do it. “
Hans Vanaken and Noa Lang were also on the Belgian champions’ scores after an hour of the opening incident.
After Zenit Sardar Azmoun’s striker denied an offside purpose, the Bruges took advantage of a defensive error in the 33rd minute, while De Ketelaere took advantage of poor clearing to pull a hard shot from inside the area in front of goalkeeper Mikhail Kerzhakov.
It’s the purpose of De Ketelaere’s competition at the moment. The much-loved offensive midfielder, who turned 19 in March, made his overseas debut for Belgium last month and also scored a winning goal in the time off the opposing game in October.
The purpose strengthened the trust of the hosts and Vanaken may have doubled Bruges’ lead four minutes later when he did not score in the area and connected with a corner shot, to direct the ball directly towards the goalkeeper.
Zenit made three adjustments in the period and tied in the 48th minute with a hand from Daler Kuzyayev behind a left-handed centre.
The house team was under pressure, but it resisted the onslaught of visitors and doubled the lead almost an hour after De Ketelaere was intercepted and committed a foul in the area. Vanaken took the penalty and sent Kerzhakov to the road.
Lang finished the scoring from the near-73 diversity after Emmanuel Dennis discovered from the right wing and sent a center level to the area.
The fit played without the presence of enthusiasts for Belgium’s restrictive measures against coronaviruses.
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