Anderlecht battles to a point

MONDAY, 7 NOVEMBER 2022, 11:54 - lajoya
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GAMES Anderlecht drew 0-0 at Antwerp. Anderlecht escaped the deficit several times, although they played well before halftime. Offensively, however, Purple White could not show anything tonight, but it could have had a penalty kick after halftime after a pushing error on Amuzu. The point does not do Anderlecht much good in the ranking, but it can be a boost for the important cup match at Lierse.


Without Vertonghen, who dropped out injured in the last minute, Anderlecht had to reverse immediately after strong pressure from Antwerp. After fifteen minutes, however, the purple and white restored the balance. After half an hour Anderlecht played well, but in terms of chances the game was locked. The VAR had to intervene to rightly disallow a goal by Stengs because of offside. In minute 38, Van Crombrugge was the first goalkeeper who had to come into action. He intervened well on an attempt by Balikwisha. In the rebound, Anderlecht were lucky that the ball did not land in front of an Antwerp foot. Just before halftime, Anderlecht was lucky again. A shot by Yusuf deflected and landed just wide of the goal. Few chances for Antwerp, but offensively Anderlecht couldn't show anything either.

Just after half-time, Debast had a difficult moment. He went under the ball, lost it and received a yellow card. Antwerp stepped up the pressure again and that created a hot stand in front of goal. Anderlecht had problems keeping the ball in their own ranks. Just after the hour, there was clearly a push foul by Bataille on Amuzu in the penalty area, but VAR was apparently watching sports weekend. Immediately after that, Veldman made three substitutions. Trebel celebrated his reappearance. Stroeykens filled in for a disappointed Silva, leaving Anderlecht to play with Amuzu as the deepest man. Ashimeru replaced the deserving Leoni.

A quarter of an hour before time, Antwerp also brought in three new players. Anderlecht immediately escaped the arrears thanks to a good intervention by Van Crombrugge and Debast who kept a ball off the line, assisted by the post. After that, Anderlecht got out from under the pressure, but forcing a chance was asking a lot. In the added time, Amuzu forced a free kick, but Refaelov kicked at the wall.

Anderlecht took a point while battling at Antwerp who had the only chances tonight. Refaelov and Verschaeren played well, but had to make their actions too far from goal. Still, we are curious about the explanation why the VAR did not intervene after Bataille's pushing foul. Purple and White can now prepare for the important cup game in Lier.

Score: 0-0
Goal(s) : /

Antwerp:Butez, Delaet, Alderweireld, Pacho, Bataille, Yusuf, Gerkens, Stengs (Valencia 75'), Ekkelenkamp (Vermeeren 75'), Janssen (Frey 75'), Balikwisha (Muja 87')
Anderlecht:Van Crombrugge, Murillo, Debast, Delcroix, N'Diaye, Diawara (Trebel 64'), Leoni (Ashimeru 64'), Amuzu (Esposito 90+3'), Verschaeren (Raman 78'), Refaelov, Silva (Stroeykens 64')

Yellow: Gerkens (45+2'), Debast 51', Pacho 68', Amuzu 73', Trebel 90+2'
Red: /

Referee: Jasper Vergoote
Stadium: Bosuilstadium



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