Anderlecht recorded third win in Europa League

GAMES

Anderlecht continues to win on the European stage. In a pleasant match, they defeated Ludogorets tonight. Anderlecht played for an hour against ten men, but in the closing stages everything seemed to fall apart.

Anderlecht let a lot of pawns rest and could breathe a sigh of relief when Almeida ran a corner kick just wide in the second minute. Soon the purple and white got into the game. Ashimeru captured the ball well and kicked over the cross. Vazquez headed a hard cross parried at goalkeeper Bonmann.

Degreef provided a breath of fresh air on the left, but shortly before the half-hour mark went a little too long on Vidal's shirt. The latter responded with an elbow strike to Degreef's chin. After a VAR intervention, this led to a justified red card. With a man less, Ludogorets crawled back in and around their own sixteen. Anderlecht got the ball, but it did not lead to any chances.

At the stroke of halftime, the dummies started to dance when some Bulgarian dummies boiled over. Three players and the coach got yellow. The fans threw everything on the field.

After the break, it was quickly apparent that Ludogorets would pick every second they could. The double defense counted nine white shirts. Anderlecht tried to combine quickly, but the hole was hard to find. Until Simic advanced with them in minute 67. He put Verschaeren nicely in front of goal, but the latter kicked at the goalkeeper. Simic popped the rebound at a defender, but third time lucky and Edozie kicked Anderlecht into the lead.

After the 1-0, Ludogorets crawled out of its shell. That created more space for Anderlecht, but also danger on the counterattack. In the 90th minute, the heart of every Anderlecht fan stood still for a moment when Rwan Cruz suddenly pushed the equalizer into goal. Fortunately, Naressi was an arm out of play when he headed the ball against the crossbar just before. After a minute-long VAR check, the goal was rightly disallowed. OEF!

After the 1-0, Ludogorets crawled out of its shell. That created more space for Anderlecht, but also danger on the counterattack. In the 90th minute, the heart of every Anderlecht fan stood still for a moment when Rwan Cruz suddenly pushed the equalizer into goal. Fortunately, Naressi was an arm out of play when he headed the ball against the crossbar just before. After a minute-long VAR check, the goal was rightly disallowed. OEF!

Not 1-1, but 2-0. Dolberg put Dreyer alone in front of goal and the Dane did not fail.

Score: 2-0

Goal(s): 67' Edozie (1-0), 90+5' Dreyer (2-0)

Anderlecht:Coosemans, Foket (83' Sardella), Simic, Dendoncker, Augustinsson (75' N'Diaye), Rits, Ashimeru (59' Dolberg), Stroeykens (59' Verschaeren), Dreyer, Vazquez, Degreef (46' Edozie)

Ludogorets:Bonmann, Witry, Verdon, Dinis Almeida, Son (87' Gropper), Naressi, Chochev (87' Camara), Duarte (75' Erick Marcus), Caio Vidal, Duah (75' Rwan Cruz), Rick

Yellow: 28' Degreef, 41' Verdon, 45+3' Chochev, 45+4' Naressi, 45+5' Rick, 45+5' Jovicevic (coach), 64' Bonmann, 80' Foket, 89' Sardella, 90+6' Padt (bench sitter)

Red: 30' Vidal

Referee: Filip Glova (Slo)

Stadium: Lotto Park

Source: © Internal source