GAMES Anderlecht won its second home match of the league 3-0 against Standard. Anderlecht played a solid game in which it struck twice before halftime at an ideal moment through Simic and Dolberg. Standard actually did not play badly, but it lacked quality to punish mistakes by Purple and White. After halftime Anderlecht had more control and Dreyer scored the 3-0 in extra time. All in all, a deserved victory for an efficient Purple and White.
Anderlecht did lead 2-0 at halftime, but against a better opponent that score would probably not have been on the board at halftime. Indeed, Standard was never the lesser in the game, but failed to take advantage of the gaps left by Anderlecht.
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Continue reading On the first real attempt by Purple-White, Simic immediately headed low into goal after nine minutes. Standard responded, but fortunately the pass or cross just didn't arrive. Anderlecht also failed to take advantage of the space left by Anderlecht.
The birthday boy Dolberg decided to give himself a nice present on the half hour. He cleverly took out his keeper and fired high into goal from distance. Goalkeeper Epolo, as with the 1-0, did not look entirely kosher. Just after that, Dolberg himself created a chance for the 3-0, but now Epolo reacted well. This could have possibly already decided the match. In the final quarter of an hour, Standard again pulled the sheet, but Coosemans saved the most dangerous attempt, a breakaway shot by Price.
Anderlecht started better after halftime, but didn't really get any chances. After Standard had come on briefly, Verschaeren seemed to decide the match in minute 65 with the 3-0, but Dolberg was narrowly offside at the very beginning of the phase. Is it really necessary to disallow such a goal? Anderlecht did take control of most of the match after halftime. Still, Standard actually got too many chances to be dangerous which meant a strong Coosemans was needed again, including on a tricky place ball from Zeqiri.
Anderlecht slumped again in the last twenty minutes, but Standard seemed to be quietly resigned to the fate of defeat. In the added time, Dreyer still scored the 3-0. Like a Danish devil out of a box, he popped a controlled shot from an acute angle across the goal. Hopefully this goal will give Anderlecht the necessary confidence.
So Anderlecht finally wins the league again. It certainly didn't play badly, but there were also weaker moments from which Standard could have taken advantage. Anderlecht can prepare during the international break for the match against Beerschot which must also be won.
Match progression: 90'+5: Sardella gets another yellow in a very silly way. He is now on a card from a suspension. 90'+4: Edozie pops just over goal. 90'+2: 3-0! Finally Dreyer is on the scoreboard this season. From a sharp angle, the Dane pops overhook into goal. 87': Will Standard get anything more done? Badamosi shoots hopelessly wide from distance. 83': Simic picks up his fourth yellow card and is suspended against Beerschot. If you're going to be suspended for a game, maybe better against the bottom of the league? 79': Again Coosemans, this time he saves a header from Ekhert. 77': Coosemans cleverly saves a dangerous place ball from Zeqiri. The goalkeeper's weekly super save. 76': Good action from Anderlecht. Stroeykens keeps the ball well, Verschaeren cleverly serves Edozie. Rits just can't reach Dolberg. 74': Eckert is well held off by Zanka. 72': Coosemans is attentive to a high ball after mistakes by Sardella and Simic. 69': A volley by Verschaeren falls within reach of Epolo. 65': Verschaeren scores, but the goal is still disallowed for offside by Dolberg at the very beginning of the phase. This is called nails on low water then. 61': Coosemans keeps a low shot out of goal after a missed intervention by N'Diaye. 55': Dolberg pops a free kick centrally at goal. 51': Degreef just can't reach Stroeykens. 49': Coosemans comes out quickly. There Zanka again lets himself be outsmarted too easily. 46': Zanka with a terrible return ball, Coosemans clears. 46': Will a 2-0 lead now suffice for victory against Standard?
HALF TIME
45'+1: A wrong inwprp by N'Diaye leads to another phase in front of Coosemans' goal. 38': Coosemans has to stretch on a breakaway shot from Price. 37': Free kick from Bulat, Coosemans is on hand. 32': Dolberg pushes and suddenly gets a great chance for the 3-0, but Epolo closes the legs just in time. This could have possibly already decided the match. 30': 2-0! The birthday boy Dolberg pops the ball high into goal from distance. Anderlecht can't complain with this score. 28': Again a lot of space for Standard, but Camara has to swerve too fiercely this time. Coosemans intervenes. 26': Anderlecht gets away well again, as there was suddenly a boulevard of space on the right. 25': Shot Bulat over goal after hesitant defending from Simic. 22': Shot by Stroeykens, too central on goal. 20': Anderlecht has a hard time with Standard's fierce pressing. 14': Leoni intercepts a dangerous pass in the penalty area. 12': Anderlecht is ahead, but in terms of play Standard is certainly not the lesser. 10': Standard almost gets two chances for the equalizer. The first time they play it off badly, the second time the cross is just missed. 9': 1-0! Simic scores with his head on a short-taken corner. The first attempt is an immediate hit. 6': An attempt by Camara is blocked in time by Simic. Anderlecht's start is not super. 3': Coosemans plays sloppy soccer. Fortunately, there is an offside after that.
Zeno Debast kicks off the match. Notable spectators are Romelu Lukaku, his two sons and his brother Jordan. Lukaku received a standing ovation during the match which greatly moved the Napoli striker.
