Anderlecht grabs unexpected win in closing stages

GAMES Anderlecht won 2-1 against a strong Genk. Purple and white played one of their weakest matches this season, although the emergency defense resisted with heart and soul. Genk was simply better in ball possession and saw the 0-1 disallowed. After halftime, Genk climbed into the lead anyway through Fadera, but Anderlecht hit back immediately through a clever shot by Leoni. In the closing stages, a run by Angulo led to Anders Dreyer's 2-1. The Lotto Park exploded and realized that this win may be considered a nice Christmas present.


With a completely different defense, Anderlecht underwent the game in the first half. Fadera too easily took out Patris after 15 minutes, but he kicked straight at Schmeichel. Five minutes later, Paintsil was able to strike out after a dramatic pass from Patris. His shot hit Delaney's elbow, causing VAR to intervene and the ball appeared on the spot. Schmeichel saved Heynen's weakly kicked penalty, but Sor fired the rebound into goal. After quite a bit of confusion, however, it still remained 0-0, as the goal was disallowed because Sor had left too early, although it was hard to see that on the footage. A strange decision by the VAR.

Anderlecht thus escaped the deficit and came out once on the half hour, but Dreyer's shot was blocked. Dolberg could have offered Verschaeren an excellent chance, but the Dane failed to spot his teammate. Genk almost did what it wanted on the flanks. Schmeichel put a hand against a deviation from Sor.

In the closing stages, Anderlecht was able to poke its nose in the window for a moment. In minute 40, Sadick again put a leg in front of a shot by Dreyer. Delaney just failed to extend a free kick into goal. In extra time, Schmeichel had to stretch on a low shot by El Khannouss.

Anderlecht certainly could not complain at the 0-0 halftime score. Genk was much better and more nimble in ball possession and continued on their élan after halftime. Anderlecht had to reverse, but it got out twice in quick succession. Dreyer had a great chance when he headed diagonally toward the Genk goal, but the Dane pounced on Vandevoordt. Moments later, Patris put himself through, but Dolberg's heel was too impure to reach Leoni.

Just after the hour, Genk threatened again through Sor. In the 70th minute, Genk had their goal after all. Schmeichel first saved a header by newly-installed Arokodare, but the Dane was unable to save Fadera's header. But the Genk lead did not stay on the scoreboard for long. Leoni quickly turned away and lashed out with a superbly placed shot that from out of nowhere put Purple White back on level terms.

Genk continued to attack while Anderlecht had to wait for the right moment to be dangerous. El Khannouss had a good shooting chance, but kicked too centrally at goal. In extra time, the substitute Angulo pushed forward well after Ashimeru captured the ball. Leoni cleverly served Dreyer and the Dane provided the unexpected lead. Immediately after the goal, Paintsil received two yellow cards for protest. In the closing stages, Genk went all out, especially since Verboomen allowed the ball to be played on. But this time, the Limburgers did not manage to score in the absolute closing stages, so Anderlecht kept the three points.

Purple and White can end 2023 in beauty by doing the same against Cercle Brugge on Wednesday.

Score: 2-1
Goal(s):0-1 Fadera 70', 1-1 Leoni 73', 2-1 Dreyer 90'+1

Anderlecht:Schmeichel, Patris, Sardella, Delaney, Augustinsson, Rits, Leoni, Stroeykens (Ashimeru 75'), Verschaeren (Angulo 88'), Dreyer, Dolberg (Vazquez 88')
Racing Genk:Vandevoordt, Sadick, Kayembe (Zeqiri 90'+4, Munoz, Cuesta, Heynen, Hrosovsky, El Khannouss (El Hadj 90'+3), Fadera (Baah 86'), Paintsil, Sor (Arokodare 66')

Yellow: Kayembe 44', Munoz 78', Leoni 84', Paintsil 90+1, Paintsil 90'+1, Sadick 90'+4
Red: Paintsil 90+1' (2x yellow), Vrancken 90'+1

Referee: Nathan Verboomen
Stadium: Lotto Park

Source: © Internal source