HJK Helsinki 0 : 3 Club Brugge - Club Brugge coast past Helsinki

Posted Friday, October 03, 2014 by PA

Club Brugge eased to a first Europa League victory over Group B opponents HJK Helsinki, with Tom de Sutter and Laurens de Bock on target for the Belgian side.

Defender Markus Heikkinen's own-goal put Brugge ahead after 19 minutes before De Sutter's second-time finish and De Kock's free-kick delivered a handsome 3-0 scoreline.

While Brugge left Finland with four points from their first two games, the hosts have recorded back-to-back defeats and already look adrift.

After a slow start the visiting side began to exert themselves, Fernando Menegazzo testing his range from 30 yards and Mamadou Oulare flashing the ball wide having chased up his own corner.

Helsinki goalkeeper Antonio Doblas kept the hosts on terms when Lior Rafaelov got his shot away in the 17th minute but it was a only a temporary measure.

Rafaelov was the target moments later as Robin Lod whipped in a corner but while Heikkinen beat him to the ball, he could only steer it into his own net.

Slipping behind appeared to rally the Finns, Aristde Bance and Demba Savage both getting into the right position without mustering a shot to match.

And it was Heikkinen who had the best chance to atone for his earlier error seconds before half-time, but his header from Savage's corner was too close to Ryan.

There was nothing more to separate the teams until 20 minutes from time when Sebastian Sorsa's ill-judged back-pass left Helsinki wide open.

Substitute De Sutter needed two bites at the cherry to finish, Doblas having saved his initial effort, effectively making the points safe.

Eight minutes later Brugge had their third, Rafaelov winning a free-kick at Anthony Annan's expense and De Bock lashing it into the top corner.