GAMES Anderlecht won 2-0 at Cercle Brugge after an uneven performance. They played a strong first half, taking an early lead through a penalty and still having a chance to score. But after the break, Anderlecht faded completely, although Cercle couldn't create a clear-cut chance. On a rare breakaway, Camara set up Bertaccini, who sealed the final score.
Anderlecht started well and scored from the first opportunity. After a lob from Vazquez was cleared off the line, the Argentinian was fouled. Hazard finished the job from the spot. Anderlecht didn't play poorly, but lost possession too easily, allowing Cercle to certainly be in contention, although they couldn't really threaten Coosemans once.
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Continue reading The Purple & White were certainly capable of threatening, and they should always have gone into halftime with at least one more goal. Angulo blasted Delanghe and missed a great chance from a cross by Hazard, although the Ecuadorian seemed surprised that the ball still found him. Verschaeren also couldn't clear a Hazard cross.
All good things vanished like snow in the sun after the break. Anderlecht played tensely and relinquished control, just as they had on Thursday. Bertaccini and Camara came on after the hour mark, but Cercle continued to control the match, although they didn't create any real chances.
Fifteen minutes before the end, Verschaeren finally threatened for the Purple & White, but his low shot was a bit too weak. Five minutes later, Anderlecht did strike. Hazard beautifully played Camara free, and his cross found Bertaccini, who immediately struck to make it 0-2. This took the sting out of the end of the match, in which Cercle also couldn't create any more danger.
A good (and logical) six out of six for Anderlecht, who are recovering after their disgrace in Europe. But the decline after the break was quite striking. The midfield lost control, and the attacking players were unable to reach or even force anything themselves. Anderlecht can now (temporarily) focus on Europe again, where there's no safety net.
