Anderlecht just inside top six after yet another defeat
MONDAY, 23 MARCH 2026, 21:52 - Skyhawk
GAMES Anderlecht finished sixth in the league after a 2-3 defeat to Cercle Brugge. Mauves were uninspired and comprehensively outplayed before the interval by a sharp Cercle, who led 1-3 after 45 minutes. After the break Anderlecht were unlucky when an early effort came back off the woodwork, and Cercle largely kept control until Hazard pulled one back in the 90th minute to make it 2-3. Fortunately for Anderlecht, Genk were held to a draw in La Louvière, so a truly nightmarish outcome was avoided.
Anderlecht endured a disastrous first half — easily one of their worst sixty minutes of the season. Despite Coosemans' plea to “start strongly”, it seemed only Cercle had taken him at his word. Cercle began brightly, creating chances and opening the scoring when Diop was left unmarked to head in a Vanzeir cross in the 10th minute.
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Continue reading An otherwise invisible Anderlecht suddenly found a way back through Cvetkovic, who used his strength well to fire into the far corner after 25 minutes. The worst seemed over, but almost immediately Gerkens — an ex-Anderlecht player — restored Cercle's lead when Anderlecht failed to clear a dangerous situation. Cercle pressed on and from a corner Kakou glanced home to make it 1-3.
Apathy reigned at Lotto Park; Anderlecht had no answer to Cercle's high press. After the restart (Kanaté replacing Tajaouart), Sardella came close to making it 2-3, only for Warleson to pull off a near-miraculous save. Cercle then sat back to invite pressure, but when they resumed their football on the hour mark Anderlecht were again forced to defend. Coosemans had to make a strong save from a low shot by Van der Bruggen.
Rits came on in the 77th minute for his first action of the season. Kanaté delivered another cross, but Anderlecht could do little more. The team was too slow, uninspired and predictable for large stretches. In the closing stages Anderlecht briefly stirred. Verschaeren and Sardella both tested the keeper, and then Hazard converted a rebound in the 90th minute after Warleson had kept out the initial effort. In stoppage time Ageykum had a chance to make it 2-4 but slotted wide.
