GAMES Anderlecht did not manage to end the season in a nice way. It lost 2-1 in Genk after playing quite a decent match. Verschaeren gave Anderlecht an early lead, but El Ouahdi was able to take advantage of a lot of space twice to guide Genk to 2-1. Anderlecht had several more good chances and deserved the equalizer, but the lack of scoring ability once again proved a stumbling block.
Genk and Anderlecht certainly still felt like it. Genk started strong and Anderlecht could barely keep the ball in their own team. Still, purple-white climbed into the lead when Stroeykens served Verschaeren. Verschaeren cut back and cleverly kicked into goal with his left in the far corner.
Continue reading below the article
Continue reading But immediately after that, Genk was already level. On a counter, Genk suddenly got enormous space. Coosemans pushed away Tolu's attempt, but El Ouadhi got all the space he needed to make it 1-1.
Anderlecht had a better game after that, but the biggest chance was again for El Ouahdi when he again got a lot of space. Coosemans remained very calm and kept the 2-1 out of his goal. For Purple White, Angulo still managed to kill off a good chance. The Ecuadorian could have sent Vazquez alone on goal, but he took the ball himself without consequence.
After halftime, Purple White quickly swallowed the 2-1. In minute 51, El Ouahdi was given all the time in the world for the third time during a Genk breakout. The Moroccan finished neatly.
Anderlecht certainly did not give in yet and was unlucky when Maamar popped on the cross on the hour. Vazquez missed a first great chance for the equalizer in minute 68 when he placed a cross from Hazard wide of the goal. Genk did provide a few more attempts, but Anderlecht had a second great chance. Verschaeren could not place the ball into the open goal in extra time.
Thus Anderlecht also loses its last game and closes the Champions' playoffs 10/30. Against the top three this season, it achieved the shameful result of 1/36, a point that was snatched with good luck at Union (0-0) in the regular competition. No mountain awaits this summer, but a whole mountain range of work for Renard & co if Anderlecht is to be more competitive next year.
Score: 2-1 Goal(s):0-1 Verschaeren 19', 1-1 El Ouahdi 20', 2-1 El Ouahdi 50'
