GAMES Anderlecht played the better game in the Champions' Play-offs but still lost 1-3 to Union. The decisive moment was Sardella's red card just before half-time — harsh and, at the same time, very foolish. At that moment Anderlecht trailed 1-2, but had put in a creditable performance against the champions. After the break the home side still scrambled, yet Union's 1-3 put the result beyond doubt.
Anderlecht must now shift its focus to securing fourth place. It was an enjoyable first half in which Anderlecht set the stage for a potentially exciting comeback from a 1-2 deficit. In added time, following a scuffle, Sardella was sent off for a movement toward Guilherme. The VAR decision was rather severe — earlier it looked more like a movement with the chest than the head — but whatever the VAR's role, Sardella's action was obviously very stupid. The VAR examines such incidents under a microscope.
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Continue reading Before the red card Anderlecht had been decent. Union had an early opportunity through the towering Sykes, but Anderlecht played with freedom and regularly pressed Union's defence. What was lacking — as so often this season — was the final pass. Union struck twice through Zorgane. The Algerian powered a header in on the quarter-hour and eight minutes later drilled a low shot into the net. Each time he was afforded far too much space and nobody picked him up — unforgivable against an opponent of this level. Anderlecht did not give up. Maamar drove forward from a Coosemans throw and found Cvetkovic, who nodded low to make it 1-2 just after the half hour.
Anderlecht pushed on and looked poised for a tense second half, until Sardella and the VAR intervened. Hey replaced Camara at half-time and Degreef shifted to the right flank. Anderlecht began the second half with belief; Union appeared to bide their time. Sykes' header hit the crossbar. Diarra had a chance shortly after the hour from a corner but needed to act very quickly. In the 65th minute Guilherme sealed the win with a placed finish after a corner was awkwardly flicked on by Hazard. Anderlecht had one last flurry: substitute Bertaccini tried a precise free-kick, Verschaeren and Diarra chased the rebound, but after that the home side ran out of ideas and Bertaccini was left to face a mass of defenders.
So Anderlecht put in a respectable performance but again walked away empty-handed. With half of the Champions' Play-offs gone and STVV's win at Mechelen, third place now looks out of reach. In that context one might wonder whether Saliba and Diarra would have been better off taking a yellow card today to avoid suspension for the crucial upcoming matches against Gent and Mechelen. Next weekend Anderlecht host Club Brugge. STVV beat Mechelen this afternoon, so Anderlecht will need to focus on fourth place more than ever.
