Just one point against Standard after excellent second half

GAMES Anderlecht and Standard both got one point tonight after an intense clash. The final score was 3-3, with Standard being better in the first half and Anderlecht being superior in the second. The Mauves are now six points behind Ghent and Bruges.

Anderlecht took control in the first fifteen minutes of the match, but it were the visitors that created the first chances. The opening goals was for Anderlecht though: after a good steal Acheampong sent Suarez deep and he beat goalkeeper Valdès: 1-0. The festivities amongst the fans soon ended though. Bad defending of Najar allowed Edmilson to head the ball back into the box. Badji wasn't effective enough in clearing the ball and Santini scored: 1-1. Standard took command over the game now and every corner kick was dangerous. Every time, someone in the home defence was caught napping, but Santini and Kosanovic were unable to score. The third time was the good time for Standard. Kosanovic was left all alone again and scored: 1-2. A few minutes before, Anderlecht should have gotten a penalty though when Büttner was brought down in the box but referee Vertenten only awarded the Mauves with a free kick.

The second half was a lot better: the home side started furiously and created a bunch of chances. Djuricic and an excellent Defour tested Valdès. When a handball of Edmilson in the box was not seen by the referee, things heated up. Kara and Valdès both escaped with a yellow card. Second later, the home side got what they deserved: Okaka headed the ball over Valdès and via the crossbar into the goal. And the attacking waves didn't end, but Edmilson scored on a counter attack: Najar did not defend well and Edmilson's shot was deflected by Kara into the goal (with some luck). It was another mental blow for the Mauves and coach Hasi decided to intervene. He brought Tielemans and Lukebakio for Badji and Büttner. And that same Lukebakio scored immediately with a header: 3-3. Anderlecht wanted more, but Defour's effort was stopped by a Standard defender. Also Tielemans didn't have any luck as his hard shot went over Valdès but hit the crossbar.

With just a handful of minutes left, Anderlecht did not have any energy left. Edmilson even scored the 3-4 on another counter attack, but he was caught offside by the linesman. With a draw, neither of both teams can be happy: Standard will have difficulties making it into playoff 1 while Anderlecht has to tolerate a gap of six points between them and leaders Ghent and Bruges.