Monaco Slips Past Cercle Brugge! What Went Wrong in the Nail-Biter?

Cercle Brugge suffered a narrow 1-0 defeat against their parent club, AS Monaco, in a pre-season friendly held on Monegasque soil. Despite a strong first-half performance and creating better chances, Cercle Brugge lacked the finishing touch to capitalise.

The game took a turn when Konaté received a red card, forcing Cercle to play with ten men. Goalkeeper De Langhe kept Cercle in the match with an impressive penalty save, but a late own goal by Gomis sealed Monaco's victory. The team now prepares for another test against OGC Nice on Saturday.

KV Mechelen Dominates Go Ahead Eagles in a Thrilling 2-5 Victory

KV Mechelen showcased their attacking prowess with a convincing 2-5 win against Go Ahead Eagles. Coach Fred Vanderbiest emphasized the importance of implementing specific game patterns, and the team responded emphatically. Malinwa started strongly, with early threats from Lauberbach and Mrabti. Storm opened the scoring in the 11th minute, cutting inside and unleashing a powerful shot.

Go Ahead Eagles briefly threatened an equaliser, hitting the post, but Storm quickly restored Mechelen's lead with an individual effort. He completed his hat-trick just before halftime, capping off a swift counter-attack. Despite numerous substitutions in the second half, Mechelen maintained control. Belghali extended the lead to 1-4, followed by Bafdili's low shot securing the fifth goal. Go Ahead Eagles managed a late consolation goal, but Mechelen secured a comfortable victory.

Zulte Waregem Falls to SK Beveren in Secret Friendly

Zulte Waregem faced SK Beveren in a behind-closed-doors friendly, succumbing to a 0-2 defeat. While both teams displayed neat passing and build-up play, clear-cut chances were initially scarce.