Anderlecht - Cercle Bruges Ends in Goalless Draw

SUNDAY, 28 OCTOBER 2007, 21:27 - andy
Anderlecht-Online No Image Found

The game between Anderlecht and Cercle ended undecided. Neither teams managed to score in what turned out to be a balanced game. Anderlecht's fifth draw of the season leaves the club trailing 5 points behind leaders Standard.


Anderlecht had to visit this season's revelation Cercle Bruges, the team that is coached by Vercauteren's ex-assistant Glen De Boeck. What gave the match extra colour is the presence of two ex-Anderlecht players in the Cercle squad. Both Besnik Hasi and Oleg Iachtchouk sported the Mauve jersey in the past.

Coach Vercauteren was to reshuffle his squad. Playmaker Ahmed Hassan had to sit out a suspension, while strikers Mpenza and Boussoufa are out injured. Serhat Akin was not completely fit either and started on the bench.

Anderlecht started eager but had to yield and grant Cercle possession of the ball. The first half proved to be balanced with few chances for both sides. Near the end of the first half, Wasilewski had an opportunity but his header went wide.

The second half promised more opportunities. A Polak header, after a free kick by Biglia, surprised Verbiest who spilled the ball. Juhasz was there to score but his effort was ruled offside. Biglia grew in his role as playmaker and delivered some incisive passes. One of which found Deschacht who beat goalkeerper Verbiest but his shot was cleared by Portier.

In the last ten minutes of the game it was the home team that created danger. Iachtchouk delivered an excellent center but Deschacht was there to clear before Gombani could be dangerous. The same Gombani had the chance to win the game when he deflected a center by De Smet. His attempt went just wide.

This is already Anderlecht's fifth draw of the season. The club remains in fifth place trailing 5 points behind leaders Standard. Frutos took his third yellow card in three games, which means the striker is suspended for next week's game.

Score: 0-0
Goal(s): /

Cercle Bruges:Verbist, Boi, Portier, Viane, Van Mol, Hasi, Serebrennikov, Gombami, De Smet, Jasjtsjoek, De Sutter
RSC Anderlecht:Zitka, Wasilewski, Pareja, Juhasz, Deschacht, De Man, Polak, Biglia, Van Damme (73' Serhat), Legear (90' Goor), Frutos

Yellow cards: 24' Frederik Boi, 32' Nicolas Frutos
Red cards:

Referee: Jérôme Efong Nzolo
Stadium: Jan Breydel Stadium



anderlecht-online forum