Raman heads Anderlecht to victory in Eupen

GAMES Anderlecht won with 0-1 in Eupen thanks to a header goal by Raman not long after halftime. Anderlecht showed a lot of initiative, but lacked inspiration on the offensive front. Eupen lurked on the counter and got some good opportunities before halftime. After Raman's goal, Anderlecht's candle slowly extinguished. Eupen came on top in the closing stages with a header against the post. Anderlecht could be very satisfied with this victory, which was won on willpower.
 


Eupen's intentions were immediately clear: wait and see and play on the counter. This was already evident after just one minute when the home team was able to break out through the arrow-fast N'Dri. Verbruggen was able to stop Gassama's weak attempt. Anderlecht took control of the game, although they were lucky when Gassama was surprised by a through pass after fifteen minutes. Anderlecht showed initiative, often through N'Diaye, but was too uninspired in the zone of truth and clashed with a potent Eupen. Purple-White then also had to substitute Refaelov with an injury. Arnstad was his logical replacement. Raman then still got a ball between the posts before halftime, but his attempt was too weak in minute 42. Thus, a pale Anderlecht could not actually complain at halftime with a 0-0.

Not long after halftime, Raman again got a ball between the posts and that immediately meant the 0-1. The striker cleverly headed an Arnstad free kick behind Moser. Moments later, a clever intervention by Ashimeru was needed to prevent N'Dri from scoring. Anderlecht dominated, but continued to struggle to create any real chances. Just before the hour, Moser had to push an Arnstad placing ball into a corner.

Fifteen minutes before time, Purple White escaped the equalizer. Lambert headed a free kick from Peeters hard against the post. Eupen had been coming on more for a while anyway, especially when the battery of standout Ashimeru was empty. Riemer brought in Kana and Stroeykens for Ashimeru and Raman. Anderlecht had controlled the whole match, but in the closing stages it had to resolutely endure Eupen's play. Magnée narrowly missed and Prevljak did the same.

Thanks to this difficult but important victory, Anderlecht remains eighth in the standings.

Score: 0-1
Goal(s):0-1 Raman 49'

Eupen:Moser, Van Genechten (Diakité 83'), Davidson, Filin, Lambert, Bessilé (Paeshuyse 28'), Peeters, Charles-Cook, N'Dri (Alvarez Rey 83'), Magnée, Gassama (Prevljak 73')
Anderlecht:Verbruggen, Murillo, Debast, Vertonghen, N'Diaye (Delcroix 86'), Diawara, Ashimeru (Kana 76'), Refaelov (Arnstad 36'), Amuzu, Dreyer, Raman (Stroeykens 76')

Yellow: Magnée 9'
Red:

Referee: Lothar D'Hondt
Stadium: Kehrwegstadium