Weak Anderlecht eliminated

GAMES Anderlecht failed to qualify for the groups of the Conference League. In Arnhem, the Purple & White fell behind very early on and after that they never managed to make a good impression. This Anderlecht has no place in Europe.


In the press conference before the game it all sounded good, but unfortunately it was just words. Vitesse took the lead after just four minutes. A corner kick landed at Wittek. He did not hesitate and via Zirkzee his shot ended up in goal: 1-0. A sharp Vitesse, fired on by an enthusiastic crowd, kept going and looking for the 2-0.

Anderlecht tried to look for danger via Amuzu, but Vitesse made some hard faults on the fast winger. Anderlecht only got their first real chance halfway through the first half. Zirkzee with a good shot from far, but Schubert had few problems. We noted greater danger on the other side. Tronstad kicked over first, Van Crombrugge saved a shot from Wittek and Cullen got away well when Openda failed to take advantage of a weak lateral ball.

'Everything is still possible', that is how Vincent Kompany's message was at half time. Unfortunately. The second half also started with an early goal against. Again it was Wittek who scored. This time he completed a nice attack with a nice volley: 2-0. Just like before half time, Anderlecht failed to react, while Vitesse controlled. Twenty minutes before time, Kompany switched his three strikers. Verschaeren, Thelin and even Dauda were allowed to try to do better than Amuzu, Raman and Zirkzee.

Dauda had an immediate chance, but the corner was sharp and the finish rushed. Ten minutes before the end, hope came. Olsson hit the post, but Refaelov kicked the rebound against the ropes: 2-1 and Anderlecht could look for prolongations. Anderlecht tried, but Vitesse didn't run into any more problems.

And so Anderlecht's first European adventure in three years ends before it really started.

Score: 2-1
Goal(s): 4' Wittek (1-0), 49' Wittek (2-0), 80' Refaelov (2-1)

Vitesse: Schubert, Hajek, Dasa, Wittek, Oroz, Bero, Bazoer, Tronstad, Gboho (86' Vroegh), Openda (83' Buitink), Frederiksen (72' Darfalou)
Anderlecht: Van Crombrugge, Murillo, Harwood-Bellis, Hoedt, Gomez, Cullen, Olsson, Refaelov, Amuzu (69' Verschaeren), Raman (69' Dauda), Zirkzee (69' Thelin)

Yellow: 8' Bazoer, 9' Hoedt, 29' Olsson, 67' Schubert, 67' Amuzu, 72' Hajek
red: /

Referee: Bartosz Frankowski (Pol)
Stadium: Ghelamco Arena