Anderlecht gets up after halftime and takes the win

GAMES No, it didn't look good at halftime. Anderlecht played very weak again and was 1-0 behind after a penalty kick that was lightly whistled. But immediately after halftime, substitute Stroeykens scored the equalizer. Mechelen still hit the post, but Anderlecht gained confidence and drew the game to itself, again through Stroeykens and via a place ball from Silva. This time, Anderlecht was able to correct a bad situation and went home with the three points.


In the early stages, Anderlecht did not get a chance. They camped on their own half and couldn't cope with the enthusiasm and faith of the home team. Yet Mechelen could not threaten until referee Van Driessche gave a penalty on the quarter-hour mark after a slight push by Hoedt. If you give a penalty for that, then the ball can also hit the dot after every corner. On the other hand, this was an announced chronicle after the umpteenth stumble we have had to witness at the beginning of an away game this season. The reaction of Purple-White was non-existent. It lost all duels and could not keep the ball in its own ranks for ten seconds. Fortunately, the sights of Ngoy and Vanlerberghe were badly adjusted so Anderlecht escaped worse.

After half an hour, Amuzu came in for Duranville who might have been tapped. Then Anderlecht threatened for the first time. Verschaeren snatched the ball and Silva's shot was turned into a corner by Coucke. Verschaeren also tried it himself, but his first attempt was too weak and his second attempt stranded in the side-netting. Anderlecht did not get further than this before halftime.

But immediately after the kickoff, Anderlecht surprised friend and foe. Silva put himself through and pounced on Coucke, but Amuzu cleverly played back to Stroeykens who masterfully scored his first goal for Anderlecht. Stroeykens had come on at halftime to replace Hoedt, switching to a 4-3-3. Yet it was again the home team that could threaten. Bolingoli's shot swung just wide. On the other side, Mechelen's ball loss was not punished by Refaelov.

Purple and White were also lucky when Mechelen was allowed to combine far too easily and Hairemans hit the post with a placed shot. In minute 66, however, Anderlecht struck again on a breakaway. Silva again pounced on Coucke, but Stroeykens again followed well and kicked Anderlecht into the lead. Not much later, Purple-White even climbed to 1-3. N'Diaye played to Silva and the Portuguese now beat Coucke with a nice place ball. After the 1-3, Mechelen still tried, but Anderlecht easily held on and took the precious three points.

For the first time this season, Anderlecht managed to turn a deficit into a lead, thanks to the golden substitute Stroeykens who followed well every time and stayed calm in front of goal. With West Ham away and Club Brugge at home, two opponents of format now await.

Score: 1-3
Goal(s): 1-0 Vanlerberghe (pen) (14'), 1-1 Stroeykens (46'), 1-2 Stroeykens (66'), 1-3 Silva (71')

KV Mechelen: Coucke, Walsh, Peyre (Oum Gouet 85'), Bates, Vanlerberghe, Verstraete, Storm, Schoofs, Bolingoli, Hairemans (Hernandez 85'), Ngoy (Soelle Soelle 62')

Anderlecht: Van Crombrugge, Debast, Hoedt (Stroeykens 46'), Delcroix, Murillo, N'Diaye, Diawara, Verschaeren (Sardella 86'), Duranville (Amuzu 29'), Refaelov (Arnstad 67'), Silva (Raman 86')

Yellow: Diawara 8', Refaelov 30', Stroeykens 78', Soelle Soelle 90'
Red:

Referee: Bram Van Driessche
Stadium: AFAS Stadium