In the Sunday matinee where Sint-Truiden hosted third-place Club Brugge, it was another unexpected result on Game Day 30, the final day of the Pro League regular season. Club and their fans expected an easy afternoon and a few more points to take into the Championship Playoff Group against mid-table STVV, but it was not to be.
Kahveh Zahiroleslam was in the starting line-up, putting in a 75-minute shift and contributing to the Canaries’ first goal of the game, his fifth of the season.
Things started the way many expected with Club, coming off their European midweek 3-0 win over Molde, scoring after just a half dozen minutes. And it was Ferran Jutgla who made it look easy as he embarrassed the STVV defense. Bruno Godeau lost the ball to Raphael Onyedika and the Nigerian sent his Spanish teammate on his way towards goal. The former Barcelona man dribbled right through the defense, into the box, and blasted his shot past Zion Suzuki.
A few minutes later the yellow and blue came on the attack with Zahiroleslam charging down the left flank, outpacing his marker and sending a sweet cross right into the six-yard box. Unfortunately, there was no teammate on hand to knock it home, although Simon Mignolet still got a hand to it, pushing it out of harm’s way. The former Liverpool keeper went to the ground with a painful expression on his face. Having recently recovered from a muscle injury, this again was the case, and the Belgian international was subbed off the field, replaced by Nordin Jackers.
Ten minutes after their goal, Club could have doubled their lead but Kyriani Sabbe’s shot took a slight deflection and rattled the crossbar. But the visitors kept possession and moved the ball around the box, looking for another goal but the defense had recovered their nerves and kept the Brugge strike force at bay.
Halfway through the first half, the Club backup keeper should have been tested but Abou Kiota’s ball into the box for his American colleague had just a bit too much on it, even for the 6’4” California frontman, who just could not get a touch.
A Zahiroleslam to Ryo Ito could have done some damage but the Japanese international is brought down though referee Kevin Van Damme sees nothing wrong with the tackle, waving away what the STVV fans felt was a penalty.
The big Brazilian, Thiago was kept at bay for long stretches but on the half-hour mark, he had a shout at goal but was unlucky with a defensive deflection. Off the follow-up corner kick, Joel Ordonez should have done better with his shot from close range but he chose to kick it right at the Japanese international keeper. Anywhere else would have doubled the lead.
Closing in on the intermission the American could have lit up the scoreboard when Kiota sent him on his way but a bad decision meant no goal and relief for the Jackers.
With peace gradually in sight, STVV finally took on a dangerous approach. Koita passed the ball well to Zahiroleslam. He seems to be on his way to the equalizer, but cannot get the ball past Jackers. Then Suzuki was forced into a save at the other end. The Japanese keeper was then called into action, making a half dozen saves on the night and keeping his team in the game. He was named the man of the match.
The Canaries came out after the intermission revitalized and after 15 minutes were celebrating the equalizer. After missing earlier opportunities, the American made amends when Ogawa put the ball high into the box and Zahiroleslam ran onto it and with a powerful header, rippled the net.
In the 75th minute, the American came off the field, replaced by Fatih Kaya. A few minutes later the German frontman put the ball on the penalty spot after he was brought down in the box by Ordonez. His shot beat the keeper but it didn’t beat the post as it smashed it and ricocheted straight back to Ogawa, but the FC Tokyo loanee hit it wide. And it seemed that three points would be denied.
Five minutes before the full 90, however, the points were sealed by a spectacular Koita strike from just right of the D, curling inside the near post.
Yanks Abroad caught up with the American goal scorer after the game.
“We already knew our fate for the post-season, playoff group 2 but every game for me and the other guys is an opportunity to grow and learn, especially against such a powerhouse in Belgian football like Club Brugge,” he said.
Regarding his goal, the Californian continued, “I had two other chances to score earlier and I should have scored, in my opinion, but I think that’s the life of a striker; chances come and go, and you just have to be ready for the next one. This time I was alert enough, it was a great cross and I just put it in the back of the net.”
Sint Truiden finishes the regular season in ninth place on 40 points and will now wait for the playoff schedule to be announced. In their group, they will face Marlon Fossey and Standard Liege, Westerlo with their two Americans (Reynolds and Yow), as well as Gent, Mechelen, and Leuven. The playoffs will get underway after the international break.
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