GAMES Anderlecht were again stranded in a draw. A very weak start to the second half allowed Dender to erase Edozie's goal before half-time, although Coosemans also had to turn out with a great save before half-time. Anderlecht recovered after the equaliser, spurred on by the substitutes, but forgot to reward itself as it did get a few more good chances. The last win dates back to matchday 4. Let's take another three points against Standard next weekend, then?
Dender took a strong start, but after twenty minutes Anderlecht got into the game better. At the first real attempt, Edozie immediately scored the 0-1. Purple and White did not get many chances, although Sardella could safely have made it 0-2 after a combination with Verschaeren. Provided that Anderlecht could have been more dangerous on several occasions, provided more accurate teamwork.
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Continue reading Anderlecht controlled the game after the 0-1, but they allowed Dender to come back, escaping the equaliser twice. Coosemans picked out with a great save on a header by Scheidler and on the corner kick that followed, Simic headed a ball away from the empty goal before the line.
Dender also started the second half strongly, but where was Purple and White at this stage? The visitors could no longer escape the equaliser. After Nsimba had missed another good chance, Scheidler made it 1-1 on a counter with a hard blast into the top corner in minute 52. Zanka was unable to intercept the pass to the goal-scorer sufficiently. Actually unbelievable that Purple White came out of the dressing room so badly, because the smallest child could have predicted that Dender would press immediately after half-time.
In minute 66 Hubert intervened with three substitutions, bringing in the young Degreef among others. With Edozie, the most dangerous Anderlecht player disappeared. The substitutions seemed to work, as Purple-White came close to scoring 1-2 four times Vazquez had a good chance soon after, but the Argentine headed wide. In addition, Cools cleared just in front of Vazquez, Dendoncker hit the post and Verrips saved a Vazquez effort with his foot. From all those chances, Anderlecht should certainly have scored once.
In the closing stages, Purple White continued to press and it was given eight minutes of extra time, but it continued to watch out for that one breakout from the home team. When it effectively occurred, Dender just failed to reach the player in the right place. In minute 98', the 1-2 was rightly disallowed for offside.
