Cercle Brugge 2–3 Zulte-Waregem | Pro League | 1 May 2026

Result Summary

A dramatic evening at Cercle Brugge's ground ended in heartbreak for the hosts, as Zulte-Waregem claimed all three points with a late winner in the 88th minute. Despite leading early and drawing level in the second half, Cercle Brugge ultimately fell to a contest defined by momentum swings and clinical finishing from the visitors.

Match Analysis

Cercle Brugge made the brighter start, and Makaya Ibrahima Diaby rewarded their early pressure with a composed left-foot finish in the 21st minute to give Lars Friis's side the lead. The hosts were relatively comfortable until a forced change saw Edan Diop replaced by Oluwaseun Adewumi as early as the 27th minute, slightly disrupting their structure.

The match remained level heading into the second half, but Zulte-Waregem grew in influence — a tendency reflected in the final statistics, where Steve Colpaert's side edged possession 53% to 47% and generated 51 dangerous attacks to Cercle's 47. The equaliser duly arrived when J. Erenbjerg converted with his left foot just after the hour mark in the 57th minute.

Cercle Brugge responded impressively. Dante Vanzeir, assisted by Pieter Gerkens, restored the home side's advantage with a right-foot finish in the 65th minute — a moment that seemed to set Cercle on course for victory. But Zulte-Waregem refused to yield. Just two minutes later, Marley Ake equalised with a right-foot effort in the 67th minute, making it 2–2 and turning the game on its head once more.

Both sides threw on fresh legs — Cercle notably introducing Ibrahim Diakité, Krys-Anthony Madou Kouassi, and Nils De Wilde in the 77th minute — but it was Zulte-Waregem who delivered the decisive blow. Substitute Serxho Ujka, who had only just entered the pitch in the 87th minute, immediately provided the assist for Joseph Amankwaah Opoku, who slotted home with his left foot in the 88th minute to seal a memorable 3–2 victory.

Despite generating 17 total shots to Zulte-Waregem's 14 and an equal 7 shots on target each, Cercle's inability to manage the match after going 2–1 ahead proved costly. Their 11 key passes outperformed the visitors' nine, yet clinical decision-making in the closing stages deserted them.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast projected a 2–2 draw, with a home win probability of 50.8%, a draw at 24.1%, and an away win at 25.1%, carrying a confidence level of 62/100. The prediction proved incorrect, as Zulte-Waregem secured the outright win rather than sharing the spoils. Interestingly, the predicted scoreline of 2–2 was actually reached during the match, but Zulte-Waregem's late intervention ensured there would be no draw. The relatively low confidence rating reflected genuine uncertainty in this contest — and rightly so, given how unpredictable the final stages turned out to be.

Key Takeaways

• Zulte-Waregem's substitutes proved decisive: Ujka's assist within seconds of entering the pitch was the defining contribution of the match.
• Cercle Brugge's defensive fragility in the final 25 minutes undermined strong attacking output throughout the game.
• The 65th-to-67th minute sequence — two goals in two minutes — encapsulated a contest that neither side could fully control.
• Zulte-Waregem's ability to win despite Cercle generating more shots overall highlights their efficiency when it mattered most.