Anderlecht can forget about league after new defeat

GAMES Anderlecht has lost only once more: 3-2 in a match full of VAR interventions Zulte Waregem. Purple and white quickly fell behind 1-0 as usual, but recovered the balance and turned the deficit to a 1-2 lead just before the hour. But a silly red card for Arnstad and a second huge coverage error brought Zulte back to 2-2. In the ten minutes of extra time, Gano nicely headed in the winning goal. Already twelve points behind No. 4 Union and a difficult schedule ahead, a good result in the league seems almost impossible for this team that is barely five points away from a relegation spot.


Although Anderlecht seemed to start with good intentions, the first cross from Zulte Waregem was a goal. Vossen could probably hardly believe that he was able to head the ball into goal without any opposition. Thus, for the umpteenth time this season, Purple-White was behind early. In minute 9, it almost became 2-0. Van Crombrugge was able to push a shot against the post. Anderlecht stood by and watched with lines so far apart that combining was simply not possible.

After 20 minutes, Vertonghen tried his luck from distance. Just before the half hour mark, Anderlecht were unlucky when Murillo's header was cleared off the line by Vossen. Immediately after, Offor hit the crossbar with a deviated shot. After Anderlecht first saw a good chance blocked, they equalized in minute 32 through Silva on Murillo's cross.

But after an initial VAR break, the goal was disallowed. Indeed, in the previous phase Derijck had committed a serious foul in the penalty area on Silva, a foul that could also have been punished with red. Silva belatedly kicked in the equalizer from the spot. But VAR made another appearance. Just before halftime, VAR called Laforge to the screen who thereby withdrew an unjustified red card for Debast.

At halftime, Mazzu substituted Verschaeren and Amuzu for Stassin and N'Diaye. Just before the hour, Anderlecht cleverly climbed to 1-2 in the pouring rain. Vertonghen crossed, Verschaeren laid back in a controlled manner and Diawara popped in a time. A few minutes later, though, Purple White got away well when Van Crombrugge executed very poorly.

Silva had an excellent chance for the 1-3 ten minutes later after the 1-2, but Bostyn saved. Verschaeren could not control the rebound due to the soggy pitch. In yet another VAR intervention, Laforge did now draw red for Anderlecht. Arnstad could go to the shower from the rain after using his elbow to clear himself in a duel with Tambedou. A very stupid (re)action by the Norwegian midfielder, as Anderlecht seemed to have the match under control.

Time to give Zulte another gift, Anderlecht thought. At a Zulte corner, two players were completely free and Sissako brought the West Flemish to an equalizer. With a man less and the pitch becoming very difficult to play on, Anderlecht was again in danger of losing points. It got ten minutes of extra time, partly due to several VAR interventions. But it was Zulte Waregem that took advantage of the extra time through Gano who very cleverly scored the third header goal for Zulte. The very weak substitute Amuzu gave all the time he needed to kick the cross towards Gano.


Anderlecht only had themselves to blame for this defeat. It started very weakly for the umpteenth time and committed two huge coverage errors resulting in two goals. Moreover, the unnecessary red card fell at a time when Anderlecht seemed to be in control of the game. Purple and White are five points away from a relegation spot. With this team, getting another result in the league seems gradually impossible because there is simply no improvement visible. Anderlecht is better off concentrating on the cup and possibly the Conference League, but isn't the selection just too weak in all respects to get a result?

Score: 3-2
Goal(s):1-0 Vossen (5'), 1-1 Silva (pen) (41'), 1-2 Diawara (58'), 2-2 Sissako (79'), 3-2 Gano (90+5')

Zulte-Waregem:Bostyn, Tambedou (Sissako 72'), Derijck (Sormo 54'), Willen, Ciranni, Rommens, Christensen (Drambaev 67'), Miroshi, Fadera (Ndour 45'), Offor (Gano 69'), Vossen
Anderlecht:Van Crombrugge, Murillo, Debast, Hoedt, Vertonghen, Diawara, Arnstad , N'Diaye (Amuzu 45'), Stroeykens (Ashimeru 72'), Stassin (Verschaeren 45'), Silva (Esposito 85')

Yellow: Offor 14', Ciranni 18', Derijck 38', Debast 45', Vossen 63', Tambedou 72', Ndour 90+1', Sissako 90+2', Gano 90+9'
Red: Arnstad 71'

Referee: Nicholas Laforge
Stadium: Rainbow Stadium