If you were at the Club Brugge stadium this past Wednesday, you certainly got your money’s worth. What unfolded during the 5th round of the Belgian championship was nothing short of a footballing spectacle, a wild ride that left everyone breathless. Ten goals hit the back of the net, in a game that twisted and turned more times than a mountain road.
The whistle had barely sounded when Westerlo’s Josimar Alcócer, a Costa Rican forward, stunned the home crowd. He slotted home a goal in the very first minute, giving the visiting fans an early reason to cheer. The nets then stayed quiet for a long stretch. But just as everyone prepared for halftime, the game exploded again. Nacho doubled Westerlo’s lead at 45’+2, assisted by Alcócer. Then, Nicolò Tresoldi pulled one back for Club Brugge at 45’+5. These two quick goals at the end of the half hinted at excitement, but nobody guessed the next 45 minutes would deliver seven more scores.
Whatever Nicky Hayen, the Club Brugge coach, said at halftime must have worked wonders. His team came out firing. They flipped the script completely, scoring two goals early in the second half. First, Portugal’s U-21 international Carlos Forbs found the net at 49′. Then, Joaquin Seys added another at 55′. Club Brugge had completed a stunning comeback, taking a 3-2 lead. But this game wasn’t done with its theatrics. Just about thirty minutes from full time, Nacho scored his second goal of the match at 61′, tying things up once more. Seven minutes later, Japanese forward Isa Sakamoto delivered another blow, putting Westerlo back in front at 3-4.
Playing at home, Club Brugge refused to give up. They pushed hard and found an equalizer through Nicolò Tresoldi once again. That goal was his fourth in the last three games for Club Brugge, and his seventh in the last five matches this season. But even with the score tied at 4-4, there was still plenty of fight left, especially in Emin Bayram. The 22-year-old Turkish defender became the unlikely star of an absolutely bizarre ending. At 90’+2, he mistakenly scored an own goal, giving Club Brugge a 5-4 lead. Everyone thought the home side had sealed the three points. Yet, at 90’+8, with seconds ticking away, the very same Emin Bayram redeemed himself. He scored in the correct goal, confirming the unbelievable 5-5 final score.
