Second-half goals from Carlos Bacca and Bjorn Vleminckx helped Club Brugge bounce back from their opening Europa League Group D defeat.

Belgian side off the mark in Group D thanks to goals after the break

Second-half goals from Carlos Bacca and Bjorn Vleminckx helped Club Brugge bounce back from their opening Europa League Group D defeat. The Belgian club were humbled 4-0 by Bordeaux two weeks ago and they survived a couple of scares from a game Maritimo side before getting their European adventure back on track. Maritimo looked formidable opponents early on and Rodrigo Antonio do Nascimento struck the bar just after the half hour mark before a fine individual goal from Bacca and Vleminckx's simple finish sealed victory for Brugge. The hosts top the Jupiler League after winning six and drawing three of their opening nine games but their heavy defeat against Bordeaux brought them back down to earth. They started well on Thursday night, with Victor Vazquez's free-kick from just outside the area forcing a comfortable save from Maritimo goalkeeper Romain Salin. Yet their Portuguese opponents were no shrinking violets and only the crossbar denied Rodrigo Antonio from breaking the deadlock with a 25-yard thunderbolt. It was a let-off for the hosts but they were nearly caught out again after the interval by the Brazilian midfielder, who was this time thwarted by Brugge goalkeeper Bojan Jorgacevic from close range. Maritimo were made to pay for their profligacy when Bacca broke the deadlock in fine style in the 57th minute. The Colombian striker brought the ball under control before sprinting past last man Valentin Roberge and firing past a helpless Salin. Vleminckx missed the target from 12 yards but made amends almost immediately when he doubled Brugge's lead in the 70th minute. Bacca collected Figueras Jordi's long ball before squaring to Vleminckx to tap into an empty net. Danilo Dias nearly halved the deficit but his strike from just outside the area was superbly tipped over the bar by Jorgacevic, who ensured there would be no nervy final moments.