Stubborn Anderlecht suffers defeat again against Union

GAMES Once again Anderlecht lost against Union who, as often in the derby, took an early lead. Murillo brought the purple-white to the same level quite quickly, but on the half hour Vanzeir kicked Union back into the lead. Anderlecht played sloppy and was underpowered in attack for a long time. It was only in the last quarter of an hour that it was able to put Union under pressure. That it was still 2-1 at that point was thanks to a good Van Crombrugge and a few Union misses. 


There are still certainties in football. One of them is that Anderlecht often falls behind very quickly against Union. Already after one minute this time. Boniface kicked the ball hard and wide into the goal after Amuzu had lost the ball too easily. Purple and white immediately had to chase against Union. Anderlecht got an excellent chance with Verschaeren in minute 7, but he unfortunate kicked the ball wide after it just collided. But at a second chance it was 1-1. Murillo put himself through well on the right and stayed very calm to conclude successfully from a tight angle. The balance was not only visible in the score, but also on the pitch.

On the half hour Union climbed back into the lead (too easily). Vanzeir scored after Nieuwkoop headed back a cross centrally in front of goal. Anderlecht could get back to work, but couldn't reach the strikers before half time.

Sadiki, Refaelov and Silva came on the field after the break for Kana, Amuzu and Raman. But Anderlecht got away with it twice. Van Crombrugge first saved the purple and white from falling behind 3-1 after Arnstad lost the ball. Lazare tried to kick in the empty goal from a great distance, but Van Crombrugge managed to save it. In the next attack, Boniface kicked just wide.

Anderlecht had a hard time finding an opening. In the meantime, Union kept on aiming for the 3-1 with, amongst others, a big chance for Lazare. Right after that, Anderlecht finally got a chance around minute 70, but Esposito headed over from a good position. Mazzu also threw in Stroeykens for Hoedt fifteen minutes before time. Despite the pressure being increased, the passing and the duelling power remained insufficient.

After a phase in which Anderlecht first seemed to get a penalty (hands by Burgess were converted to offside by Stroeykens by the VAR), a good chance for Silva was stopped by Moris. Anderlecht got six minutes extra time to get something going in the Dudenpark. In that extra time, Moris saved a free kick of Refaelov, but it remained 2-1.

That's how Anderlecht lost for the fifth time in a row against Union, matches which almost always go according to the same pattern because the purple and white are falling behind too easily. Anderlecht now has to pick itself up in the league in home matches against the difficult opponents Gent and OHL, who it couldn't win last season.

Score: 2-1
Goal(s): 1-0 Boniface (1'), 1-1 Murillo (12'), 2-1 Vanzeir (30')

Union:Moris, Nieuwkoop, Burgess, Lynen (Rodriguez 60'), Sykes (Kandouss 60'), Van Der Heyden, Teuma (El Azzouzi 79'), Lapoussin, Lazare Amani, Vanzeir, Boniface (Adingra 70')
Anderlecht:Van Crombrugge, Debast, Hoedt (Stroeykens 73'), Delcroix, Murillo, Amuzu (Refaelov 46'), Kana (Sadiki 46'), Arnstad (Olsson 67'), Verschaeren, Raman (Silva 46'), Esposito

Yellow: Kana 40', Van Der Heyden 58', Nieuwkoop 68', Rodriguez 88'
Red:

Referee: Nathan Verboomen
Stadium: Dudenpark