Anderlecht eliminated in cup semi-final

WEDNESDAY, 9 MAY 2007, 22:42 - andy
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Anderlecht did not succeed in overcoming a 0-1 deficit to reach the cup final. It lost 2-1 to Standard in the semi-final. A rare Zitka error sealed Standard's victory. The Rouches will face Club Bruges at the Heizelstadium.


For this semi-final both teams adjusted their usual starting line-up. Vercauteren surprised everyone by leaving both Hassan and Frutos on the bench in favor of Baseggio and the young Mbokani. Standard coach Preud'homme left Dupré in the dug-out. Oussalah took his place.


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Standard were in control in the opening minutes. Jovanovic, who scored the goal in the first leg, was again the most obvious threat for the Anderlecht defence. The Standard striker could freely manoeuvre into the Anderlecht box after a bad Deschacht intervention but could not achieve a shot. Five minutes later, the same Jovanovic had the freedom to shoot. His shot went barely wide.

Anderlecht had a good opportunity fifteen minutes into the game. A Legear center reached Mbokani through Juhasz. Renard did well to parry his shot. Standard were in control of the game and Anderlecht had trouble keeping possession. Baseggio still had to adjust to the rhythm of a cup game after being sidelined for a number of weeks, while Legear was unlucky in his actions. However, it was Anderlecht that had the best opportunity in the first half. A Legear center reached Biglia inside the box. His shot missed the necessary force to pose a real threat to the Standard goalkeeper.

The second half started ideal for the home side. Two minutes after the break, the unmarked Witsel had the time to drive a shot into the bottom-right corner. From then on Anderlecht showed the eagerness it lacked in the first half. The Mauves pushed forward and soon created a number of chances. Boussoufa came close to scoring when he received an excellent Legear center from the left. The Moroccan international merely had to let the ball glide off his foot, but he aimed it straight at Renard.

Anderlecht maintained its dominance, however, and equalised halfway the second half. The Standard defence looked clumsy when they passed the ball to Mbokani. The young striker did not hesitate and knocked the equaliser past Renard.

The Brussels side kept pushing forward, hoping to score the goal that could put them in the final. Initially, Standard did not succeed in evading the pressure but a rare Zitka error handed Standard a ticket to the final. The Czech goalkeeper let the ball jump from his foot after an innocent Juhasz pass. The substituted Sa Pinto came rushing on and eagerly went down when Zitka tried to clear the ball. Jovanovic had no trouble in converting the subsequent penalty.

The resulting two-goal difference appeared too big for the visitors. Anderlecht saw its dream of winning the double vanish and is now forced to focus on the title race.

Score: 2-1
Goals: 1-0 Witsel 47', 1-1 Mbokani 65', 2-1 Jovanovic 74' (penalty)

Standard: Renard, Dante, Deflandre, Oussalah, Sarr, Conceiçao, Defour, Fellaini, Witsel, Jovanovic (Dupré 89'), Lukunku (Sa Pinto 71')

Anderlecht: Zitka, Deschacht, Juhasz, Von Schlebrügge (Tioté 83'), Wasilewski, De Man (Pareja 79'), Biglia, Legear (Hassan 64'), Boussoufa, Baseggio, Mbokani

Yellow: Oussalah (33'), Wasilewski (36'), Baseggio (57'), Zitka (74'), Hassan (86')
Red: /
Referee: Frank De Bleeckere
Stadium: Sclessin