GAMES Anderlecht's ordeal this season has one more week to run. Today, at the last moment, they avoided a first fall by salvaging a 2-2 draw. The Purple-and-Whites again started sluggishly and Mechelen took the lead after a gift from Huerta. Saliba quickly levelled, and Miras kept Mechelen in front until half-time.
Anderlecht were woeful in the second half and looked set for a 1-2 defeat after Koudou put Mechelen back ahead. Camara rescued a vital point in added time, helped in part by a hesitation from substitute goalkeeper De Wolf. Anderlecht needed a serious wake-up call to realise they would have to play football this afternoon.
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Continue reading The Purple-and-Whites produced a listless opening full of turnovers, which led to Huerta's present to Mechelen: the Mexican's unnecessary and dangerous backpass was picked up by Van Brederode, who made it 0-1 after a quarter of an hour. Anderlecht did not lie down, however, and immediately equalised when Saliba placed a low finish after a pass from a lively Sikan. Purple-and-White looked more in the match now. Camara should have scored when through on goal and Sikan had a chance with a dropshot, but Miras kept Mechelen — who were less dangerous after the 0-1 — level at 1-1 at the break.
Mechelen's goalkeeper remained injured in the dressing room. Nothing was left of Anderlecht's better spell before half-time in the second half. Mechelen came back into the ascendancy and promptly went ahead at their first meaningful attempt on goal: on the hour Koudou struck from the edge of the box into the far corner — a lovely strike, but poorly defended. Anderlecht lately concede goals as readily as a baleen whale gulps plankton. Bertaccini came on at the hour, and ten minutes later Hazard, Kana and Sardella were introduced. Time, however, ticked mercilessly away for a Purple-and-White side who after the break seemed to have the energy of a squeezed lemon.
Yet they still escaped defeat. Maamar, the only substitute to make a real impact, drove forward and found Camara centrally. His effort was weak, but substitute keeper De Wolf hesitated and was wrong-footed by the position of Hey, allowing Camara to score.
The draw leaves the battle for fourth unchanged. Anderlecht retain a two-point cushion over Gent and Mechelen. They have one final chance on Thursday against STVV, while Gent and Mechelen face Union and Club Brugge respectively. It will have to happen on Thursday, because Union would dearly like Anderlecht to be condemned to play the winner of the Europe Play-offs. Anderlecht must also hope the title race is decided on the last matchday so Club Brugge will need to go all out then. Anderlecht picked up no yellow cards today and will not have suspensions to worry about for the STVV game — aside from Cvetkovic, of course.
