GAMES Anderlecht lost again, this time 2-0 in Genk. A contentious goal in the 68th minute set the tone for the defeat: a clear foul on Saliba in the build-up was not punished, and shortly afterwards Genk doubled their lead. Anderlecht hardly looked like turning the game around and only mustered a chance in stoppage time. This time Anderlecht were not to blame for an individual error or a poor spell; they were unlucky with a refereeing decision.
There was indeed contact on Saliba before the goal — the Canadian even showed a bleeding lip as proof. In terms of organization, Anderlecht were not disastrous, but going forward they were once again painfully ineffective. The team have now failed to score in four-and-a-half matches. How long ago that last happened in purple-and-white history is anyone's guess, and it raises the obvious question: who will score the goals in the coming fixtures? Next up is an almost mission?impossible cup tie away to Antwerp, followed by a vital home game on Sunday against La Louvière. If that one isn't won, the club's remaining ambitions in this season's league can be written off.
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Continue reading The first half in Genk was forgettable. Anderlecht were reduced to containing Genk and barely threatened in attack. Genk created the better openings, notably through El Ouahdi and Medina, with Coosemans denying attempts and Ilic throwing himself in the way of a Heymans effort. In the opening 30 minutes Genk easily progressed down the wings.
Anderlecht were organised but struggled to create danger. Verschaeren had the only real chance before the break, his low effort saved by Lawal, and the visitors suffered from far too many technical lapses — they had just 8.3% possession in Genk's half. After the interval Anderlecht showed slightly more initiative and tried to press higher, occasionally looking a little threatening but without fashioning clear chances. Following a blatant foul on Saliba, substitute Sor was played in on the left, proved quicker than Sardella and beat Coosemans to make it 1-0 in the 68th minute after a VAR check confirmed the strike. The decision not to take the prior foul on Saliba into account caused understandable frustration. With Hazard and Bertaccini now on the pitch, Anderlecht were forced to sit back after going behind instead of mounting a response.
Genk made the game safe when Mirisola headed in unmarked from a corner for 2-0; Anderlecht failed to clear and the corner had been conceded rather easily by Ilic, despite the Serb otherwise putting in a decent display. In the closing stages Anderlecht pressed and Kanaté headed a gilt-edged chance narrowly wide. Ilic also threatened, but Anderlecht failed to find the net for a fourth consecutive match. Right before the final whistle Lawal tipped a good Saliba shot over the bar.
Final score: Racing Genk 2, Anderlecht 0. Goals: Sor 68', Mirisola 84'.
Racing Genk (starting XI): Lawal; El Ouahdi, Sadick, Smets, Kayembe; Heynen, Karetsas, Heymans, Ito; Medina (substituted), Bibout (substituted). Substitutes used included Sor and Mirisola.
Anderlecht (starting XI): Coosemans; Sardella (substituted), Hey, Ilic, Maamar, Saliba, Llansana; Da Costa (substituted), Verschaeren (substituted), Degreef (substituted), Sikan (substituted). Substitutes used included Hazard, Bertaccini, Camara and Kanaté.
