The 2021 Belgian Super Cup was a football match that took place on 17 July 2021 between Club Brugge, the winners of the 2020–21 Belgian First Division A, and Genk, the winners of the 2020–21 Belgian Cup. Genk made its ninth Super Cup appearance after beating Standard Liège in the 2021 Belgian Cup Final on 25 April 2021. For Club Brugge it was its nineteenth Super Cup appearance, and subsequent sixteenth win.
Match Summary Both clubs were missing several key players going into the match, most notably Simon Mignolet, Eduard Sobol, Hans Vanaken and Ruud Vormer for Club Brugge; and Gerardo Arteaga, Carlos Cuesta, Eboue Kouassi, Jhon Lucumí, Daniel Muñoz and Kristian Thorstvedt for Genk. As a result, both managers were forced to experiment.
Despite starting with youngsters Noah Mbamba (16) and Odilon Kossounou (20) in central midfield, Club Brugge started strongly and pinned Genk to its own half, however without creating any chances. It was instead Genk who managed to create some danger first, as Paul Onuachu's diving header, following a cross by Ángelo Preciado, sailed narrowly over the bar. Club Brugge kept controlling the match, but with limited attempts on goal to threaten Genk-goalie Maarten Vandevoordt. Just before halftime, Genk again managed to set up a dangerous attack, with new signing Mike Trésor finding Bryan Heynen whose pass split open the Club Brugge defense to find Théo Bongonda who easily slotted the ball past 19-year old goalkeeper Senne Lammens. Still before half time, Club Brugge managed to equalize as a corner kick was headed in by Matej Mitrović via Vandevoort. Trésor was just late in kicking the ball away as it had already crossed the line.
Club Brugge started the second half in overdrive, knocking out Genk in just a few minutes: Noa Lang was fouled by Preciado in the penalty area and converted the penalty kick himself in absence of Vormer and Vanaken. Immediately thereafter, Clinton Mata extended the lead with a powerful strike which deflected via goalkeeper Vandevoort and the underside of the crossbar into the goal: 3–1. Manager John van den Brom tried to turn the tide using a few substitutions, but could only notice Club Brugge getting stronger and continuing to dominate the match. Mats Rits came close to a fourth for Club Brugge with some 20 minutes to play, but his sneaky freekick hit the outside of the post. Towards the very end of the match, Genk finally was able to create some pressure, with Lammens required to make several strong saves. Eventually, a misunderstanding between Lammens and Mitrović allowed Jere Uronen to score with a blistering strike from about 20 meters, but after that Club Brugge easily held on to win 3–2.
Details
GK 91 Senne LammensRB 77 Clinton Mata CB 15 Matej MitrovićCB 44 Brandon Mechele (c)LB 18 Federico Ricca MF 90 Charles De Ketelaere MF 72 Noah Mbamba MF 26 Mats Rits MF 5 Odilon Kossounou CF 10 Noa Lang MF 29 Bas Dost Substitutes:MF 3 Éder Álvarez Balanta FW 21 David OkerekeFW 27 Youssouph Mamadou Badji DF 28 Ignace Van Der Brempt FW 30 Daniel Pérez GK 33 Nick ShintonMF 39 Thomas Van den KeybusMF 55 Maxim De CuyperGK 81 Henri MatonMF 98 Cisse Sandra Manager: Philippe Clement GK 26 Maarten VandevoordtRB 77 Ángelo Preciado CB 3 Mujaid SadickCB 2 Mark McKenzieLB 6 Simen Juklerød MF 8 Bryan Heynen (c) MF 11 Mike TrésorMF 14 Bastien TomaMF 7 Junya Ito FW 18 Paul Onuachu FW 10 Théo Bongonda Substitutes:FW 9 Cyriel Dessers MF 17 Patrik Hrošovský MF 20 Carel Eiting DF 21 Jere Uronen MF 24 Luca OyenDF 25 Tuur RommensMF 28 Joseph Paintsil GK 40 Tobe LeysenManager: John van den Brom
Match rules 90 minutes. 30 minutes of extra time if necessary. Penalty shoot-out if scores still level. Maximum of ten named substitutes. Maximum of five substitutions.
See also 2021–22 Belgian First Division A 2021–22 Belgian Cup
References