Perišić confirms Club Brugge progress

Ivan Perišić's added-time winner secured Club Brugge KV's place in the UEFA Europa League round of 32 at the expense of Toulouse FC, the Belgian side claiming the runners-up spot in Group J on a nervous evening.

Nervy night
The hosts needed just a point to pip their opponents to a spot in Friday's draw, although with their last two UEFA Cup campaigns ending in similar circumstances there seemed little danger of complacency. Home coach Adrie Koster duly urged his charges to adopt a positive attitude and, though Toulouse enjoyed marginally the better of the first period, Club Brugge gained control after the break. Yet they were unable to put the result beyond doubt until Perišić slotted home deep into added time to take his side through.

Toulouse thwarted
A pre-match banner unfurled by the home supporters read "We have a dream", although the best opening of an even first period came at the other end with Stijn Stijnen diving to his left to push away Paulo Machado's drive and then reacting swiftly to pressure André-Pierre Gignac into firing the rebound over. The France striker came close again with the interval approaching, only a perfectly-executed Carl Hoefkens challenge preventing him bursting clear.

Home threat
Club Brugge emerged for the second period looking full of purpose and immediately carried more of a goal threat, Cheikh Mbengué hooking Antolin Alcaraz's looping header off the line. Substitute Ronald Vargas failed to connect properly when well placed and then curled fractionally too high, although a reminder of how precarious the advantage was came when Toulouse replacement Daniel Braaten headed over having arrived in the penalty area unmarked. Perišić then flashed a shot wide but made no mistake when set up by the unselfish Vargas in the final seconds, much to Club Brugge's relief.