The match against Club Brugge was, of course, all about Jan Vertonghen. The record international is retiring at the end of the season and received a fitting tribute in front of the home crowd before kick-off. Unfortunately, Besnik Hasi’s men couldn’t give their captain a parting gift. RSCA lost the top match despite a beautiful goal by Mario Stroeykens.
The Mauves started the game with high pressure and created the first chance through Mario Stroeykens. First, the midfielder tried his luck from outside the box, but his shot was too central to trouble Nordin Jackers. Then, Kasper Dolberg headed the ball on nicely, Stroeykens controlled it well but had to shoot from a tight angle. On the other side, Club Brugge threatened for the first time with a low shot from Christos Tzolis. Just before the end of the first quarter, the visitors opened the scoring. After a quick counterattack, Romeo Vermant slotted the ball into the net. Sporting responded shortly after the opening goal with a flash of brilliance from Dolberg, who hit the post with a backheel from Thorgan Hazard’s cross. Moments later, Stroeykens delivered a great pass behind the defense to Mats Rits, but he couldn’t beat Jackers. Just before halftime, Brugge struck twice more — first through Hans Vanaken, then from the penalty spot via Tzolis. Right before the break, Stroeykens made it 1-3 with a stunning long-range shot.
After the break, Yari Verschaeren and Ludwig Augustinsson came on, while Mats Rits and Lucas Hey stayed inside. Verschaeren immediately made his presence felt with a shot from outside the box, but it landed straight into the hands of Jackers. Shortly after, a shot from Dolberg sailed just over the Brugge goal. On the hour mark, after a smooth combination, the ball ended up with Angulo, but his effort was blocked. Twenty minutes before the end, the entire stadium rose to applaud Jan Vertonghen. He left the pitch for the final time in his remarkable career, alongside Tristan Degreef. Ali Maamar and César Huerta came on as their replacements. With fifteen minutes to go, Anderlecht created their biggest chance of the second half. Angulo headed the ball back well to an unmarked Leander Dendoncker, but he couldn’t strike it with enough power. Ibrahima Kanaté made his debut for Sporting late in the match. He replaced Mario Stroeykens and was given ten minutes by Hasi. The young Malian nearly scored right away: he cut inside and curled a shot just past the far post. As a result, the halftime score remained unchanged after the full ninety minutes. Even through a volley from Ali Maamar, RSCA came close to pulling one back, but the ball grazed the crossbar. And so, the halftime score remained unchanged after the full ninety minutes.
