Cercle Brugge 3-3 Sint-Truiden: Match Report, Goals, Stats and Ratings
Belgian Pro League Matchday 2 · Friday 14 August 2026 · Jan Breydelstadion, Brugge · referee J. Boterberg · full time
Full time: Cercle Brugge 3-3 Sint-Truiden
Cercle Brugge and Sint-Truiden drew 3-3 in Belgian Pro League Matchday 2 on Friday 14 August 2026 at Jan Breydelstadion. The goals: Ryan Merlen 1', Steve Ngoura 28', Ryan Merlen 37', Nelson Ishiwatari 47', Erick Nunes 82'.
How the match unfolded
Ryan Merlen put Sint-Truiden ahead in the 1st minute, set up by Ilias Sebaoui. Cercle Brugge levelled at 1-1 in the 28th minute through Steve Ngoura. Ryan Merlen made it 1-2 to Sint-Truiden in the 37th minute, set up by Robert-Jan Vanwesemael. Nelson Ishiwatari made it 1-3 to Sint-Truiden in the 47th minute, set up by Ilias Sebaoui. Erick Nunes made it 2-3 to Cercle Brugge in the 82nd minute. Cercle Brugge levelled at 3-3 in the 90th minute (+3) through an own goal by Loïc Mbe Soh. Late, and enough for a draw.
Sint-Truiden led by two and were pegged back: Cercle Brugge came back for a draw.
It was 1-2 at half-time, and the second half changed the result.
Ryan Merlen scored twice.
The referee, J. Boterberg, showed 3 yellow cards: 0 to Cercle Brugge and 3 to Sint-Truiden.
Cercle Brugge: L. Friis, 3-4-2-1 · Sint-Truiden: F. De Meyer, 4-2-3-1.
Moneyball's prediction against the result
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Why it went this way
On the day the expected goals were 1.48 for Cercle Brugge and 3.21 for Sint-Truiden.
Cercle Brugge scored about 1.5 more than their chances were worth: clinical finishing, or a goalkeeper having a bad day.
Sint-Truiden created the better chances, 3.21 xG to 1.48, and still did not win. On chances alone, the result could easily have gone the other way.
Cercle Brugge had 8 shots on target, Sint-Truiden 7.
Sint-Truiden's goalkeeper made 6 saves.
Cercle Brugge had 55% of the ball.
Where the two sides stood before this match
Cercle Brugge came into it with 8 Belgian Pro League matches played, scoring 1.1 and conceding 2.0 a match, with 1.48 expected goals for and 1.54 against, and had won 0% of their matches.
Sint-Truiden came into it with 8 Belgian Pro League matches played, scoring 1.9 and conceding 2.0 a match, with 1.98 expected goals for and 1.59 against, and had won 25% of their matches.
Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden: the match in numbers
| Cercle Brugge | Match statistics | Sint-Truiden |
|---|---|---|
| 55% | Ball possession | 45% |
| 1.48 | Expected goals (xG) | 3.21 |
| 26 | Total shots | 13 |
| 8 | Shots on target | 7 |
| 7 | Big chances | 4 |
| 473 | Total passes | 403 |
| 82% | Pass accuracy | 80% |
| 10 | Corners | 3 |
| 7 | Fouls | 9 |
| 1 | Offsides | 4 |
| 13 | Tackles | 15 |
| 3 | Saves | 6 |
| 0 | Yellow cards | 3 |
Team statistics from Sportmonks.
Player ratings and man of the match
Man of the match: Ryan Merlen (Sint-Truiden), rated 8.6 by Sportmonks, with 2 goals.
Cercle Brugge
- Gary Magnée 7.4
- Steve Ngoura 7.2 1 goal
- Geoffrey Kondo 7.2
- Erick Nunes 7.2 1 goal
- Ibrahima Diaby 7.0
Sint-Truiden
- Ryan Merlen 8.6 2 goals
- Leo Kokubo 7.5
- Ilias Sebaoui 7.3 2 assists
- Nelson Ishiwatari 7.2 1 goal
- Robert-Jan Vanwesemael 7.1 1 assist
The lowest-rated starter was Loïc Mbe Soh at 5.8. Ratings run from 0 to 10; around 7.0 is a solid match.
What comes next
- Cercle Brugge: Union Saint-Gilloise vs Cercle Brugge Sunday 25 October 2026 · Belgian Pro League
- Sint-Truiden: Club Brugge vs Sint-Truiden Sunday 25 October 2026 · Belgian Pro League
Each preview has Moneyball's estimate for the next match, published before kick-off and marked against the result afterwards, as this one is.
Questions about Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden
What was the score in Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden?
Cercle Brugge 3-3 Sint-Truiden (half-time 1-2), Belgian Pro League, Friday 14 August 2026.
Who scored in Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden?
Ryan Merlen 1', Steve Ngoura 28', Ryan Merlen 37', Nelson Ishiwatari 47', Erick Nunes 82'.
Did Moneyball predict Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden correctly?
Moneyball did not publish a pre-match estimate for this match, so there is nothing to mark it against.
Who was man of the match in Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden?
Ryan Merlen, rated 8.6 by Sportmonks.
Who refereed Cercle Brugge vs Sint-Truiden?
J. Boterberg.
Every match, before and after
Moneyball Odds writes a preview with its estimate before every match of Europe's top five leagues and the European cups, then marks it against the result, hits and misses alike.
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