Remarkable Ryan helps Brugge keep Torino at bay
Thursday, November 27, 2014
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Torino FC 0-0 Club Brugge KV
Visiting goalkeeper Matthew Ryan produced an outstanding performance to keep the hosts at bay as both sides failed to confirm qualification.
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• Neither club guarantees progress to round of 32 after no goals in Turin
• Matthew Ryan outstanding in visiting goal to keep Torino at bay
• Hosts spurn numerous chances and miss opportunity to top Group B
• A point at København will secure knockout place for Torino
• Next games: København v Torino, Club Brugge v HJK (11 December)
Neither side could guarantee progress from UEFA Europa League Group B as Club Brugge KV goalkeeper Matthew Ryan excelled to keep Torino FC at bay.
Having won all four European home games this season without conceding it, the Italian hosts not surprisingly started on the front foot; however it was the Belgian team who conjured the first moment of real danger with Víctor Vázquez whistling an effort just wide of the Torino goal. Nicolas Castillo was a whisker away from connecting with a header to put Brugge ahead shortly after, but visiting goalkeeper Ryan needed to be at his absolute best as he plunged to his right to turn wide a low goalbound Josef Martínez strike after the forward went clear.
Home full-back Matteo Darmian drove narrowly off target from outside the area and Martínez's header slipped across the face of goal before Ryan denied Omar El Kaddouri as the stalemate persisted until the break. Brugge's Australian No1 had to show why he is so highly rated again after the restart as he did superbly to frustrate El Kaddouri as the winger shot from an angle before producing his save of the night to get low to his left to somehow keep out a Martínez header.
Fittingly Ryan had the last say, repelling first Cristian Molinaro and then, spectacularly, Marcelo Larrondo's header in the dying moments to leave his side needing to avoid a 3-0 defeat at home to HJK Helsinki on matchday six to advance.