Very difficult victory against Cercle

GAMES Anderlecht have gained a much-needed victory against the relegation candidate Cercle Brugge. It quickly went 2-0, but after a Cercle goal, the score remained shaky until the final signal, certainly when Cercle striker Foster headed incomprehensibly beside the goal.


Anderlecht started eagerly but sloppily. After ten minutes, Verschaeren made a good cross and Taravel made a fault on Roofe in the penalty area. Roofe again scored from the penalty spot. Without really putting pressure on the visitors, Saelemaekers quickly scored the 2-0 after he was nicely released by Kayembe.

However, instead of continuing in this direction, the double lead rocked Anderlecht to sleep. Cercle got more possession, even though it could hardly threaten. But when Cobbaut processed a pass weakly and the ball fell right in front of Hoggas' feet, he scored the 2-1 with a nice flight shot. Anderlecht again tried to extend the lead with shots from Vlap and Kayembe. After an unfortunate contact with Donsah, Dewaele was replaced by Sardella, causing Luckassen to move to the left. Anderlecht were unable to push Cercle back, even though it was dangerous once again on a counter.

The Purple & White came pale out of the dressing room and Cercle again claimed the ball. Both teams threatened with a shot that resulted in a corner kick. Anderlecht could threaten a little more afterwards, but neither Vlap nor Saelemaekers could put the 3-1 on the board.

In minute 70, the VAR luckily but rightly intervened after Foster scored. The striker had kicked the ball out of Van Crombrugge's hands. A decent wake-up call for Anderlecht and then another warning followed when Taravel was able to head free, but too weakly.

In the last ten minutes, the substitutes Chadli and Zulj combined, but Hubert saved the Austrian's kick. Cercle seemed to score the equalizer, but the masked Foster missed. In the final phase, Chadli and Zulj showed themselves again, but the 2-1 remained on the board. Cercle was no longer able to make a fist after the huge chance of Foster.

These three points were absolutely necessary to climb in the ranking, but the game level was sadly against a weak Cercle. The large number of injuries of important players is starting to weigh heavily on Vercauteren's young team.

Score: 2-1
Goal(s): 10 'Roofe (p) (1-0), 19' Saelemaekers (2-0), 27 'Hoggas (2-1)

Anderlecht: Van Crombrugge, Luckassen, Kana, Cobbaut, Dewaele (36 'Sardella), Kayembe, Sambi Lokonga, Vlap (79' Zulj), Saelemaekers (79 'Chadli), Verschaeren, Roofe

Cercle Bruges: Hubert, Taravel, Panzo, Ueda, Biancone (79 'Saadi), Hoggas, Hazard (67' Serrano), Dekuyper, Donsah, Somers, Gory (46 'Foster)

Yellow: Verschaeren (45+ '), Panzo (58'), Biancone (67 '), Dekuyper (87')
Red: /

Referee: Laforge
Stadium: Lotto Park