Bruges secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Oostende in the Jupiler Pro League at King Power Den Drijf Stadion on Friday evening. The visitors controlled proceedings from start to finish, with goals from M. Diakhon, B. Mechele and N. Tresoldi securing all three points. By then the result was never really in doubt, though the margin of victory reflected their superiority.
Diakhon opened the scoring in the 26th minute, capitalising on a moment of opportunity in an otherwise quiet first half. Mechele doubled the advantage after the interval, finding the net in the 60th minute to put the match beyond Oostende's reach. And here's the thing — the hosts had only one shot on target throughout, making their chances of recovery minimal.
Tresoldi added a third goal in the 83rd minute, though the match was long decided by that stage. Multiple substitutions followed in the final quarter, with Bruges bringing on N. Dussenne, K. Vaesen, C. Ikwuemesi, H. Vetlesen and others. Oostende made their own changes, including H. Teklab's introduction in the 17th minute when the game was still competitive.
The statistics tell the story with little ambiguity. Bruges enjoyed 61 per cent possession and registered nine shots on target compared to Oostende's solitary attempt on goal. The visitors created two big chances while their opponents managed only one, and their 117 attacks dwarfed the home side's 62. To be fair, Oostende attempted 29 tackles and made 22 clearances, but those defensive actions couldn't compensate for the lack of penetration.
Oostende remain bottom of the table with five defeats from five matches and zero points. Bruges sit third with 12 points from four wins and one loss, maintaining their position near the top of the standings. The result extends Bruges' winning momentum while Oostende's winless run continues without respite.