Mathys Angely8′
Carlos Forbs59′
Christos Tzolis61′
Anderlecht-Club Brugge
While Anderlecht’s ordeal continues, Club Brugge is in the lead for the first time in these Champions’ Play-offs. Blauw-zwart handed Anderlecht a third consecutive defeat and thus leapt over Union to first place.
Kjell Domsand Tomas Taecke
A deluge just before kick-off caused many falls and slides in a swirling Lotto Park. Until the end, Anderlecht remains top at home in Belgium. What happens on the field rarely exceeds mediocrity.
No Simon Mignolet under the bar at Club yet. The retiring goalkeeper has resumed training, but is not yet match fit. Nathan Saliba was missing at Anderlecht. The Canadian had a great time with his compatriot Tomasz Radzinski this week, but was injured during one of the final training sessions. He is aiming for the cup final.
Mathys Angély replaced the suspended Killian Sardella at center back. The 19-year-old Frenchman is rented from Wolfsburg until the end of the season, but there is a real chance that the Purple & White will remove the option from his rental contract. At Neerpede they are very satisfied with his development. Last week he came on for the first time, now the 1m90 was in the starting eleven for his real baptism of fire.
It couldn’t have started much worse for the young lad. Vanaken kept a ball well in along the sideline and launched Forbs in one movement. The Portuguese served Tresoldi and his cross was unfortunately headed into the goal by Angély. A cold shower for the enthusiastic home team.
Shortly afterwards, Angély misjudged a long ball from Stankovic. Tzolis headed towards Coosemans alone, but he once again showed how strong he is in one-on-one situations. The ball hit the post via his hand.
The next feat in an intense top match was a terrible clash between Nordin Jackers and Moussa Diarra. The Bruges goalkeeper punched a ball away, but then came into hard contact with Anderlecht’s Malian defender. Jackers was taken away by ambulance. 22-year-old Dani van den Heuvel was the replacement. Diarra tried again, but he couldn’t go any further. Mihajlo Ilic came to relieve him.
Once the enthusiasm of the home team had subsided, the difference in quality between Club and Anderlecht became clear once again. The ease with which Stankovic plays football, the calmness of Vanaken, the speed of Forbs and then Tzolis was initially not even in the match. Club had monotonous dominance without creating great opportunities themselves.
Anderlecht initially only countered a long attempt by Degreef. He was the man of the final phase before half time. Degreef reacted (quite rightly) as if stung by a wasp when Laforge turned a blind eye to a clear violation by Ordonez. The little Leuven native got into a verbal altercation with Forbs and Ordonez, whipped up the crowd and also tried it with a volley. Llansana was unable to deflect his effort into the target.
Anderlecht did receive a solid injection of quality at half time. Nathan De Cat celebrated his return and that created hope. In the team and in the stands. ‘Catje’ immediately caught on, Angély did the same. Club lost its grip on the match for fifteen minutes and then mercilessly put things in order.
In the space of two minutes, Forbs and Tzolis KO’d Anderlecht. Club subsequently failed to add a fourth, fifth or sixth. Cvetkovic saved the honor after good work from the returning César Huerta.
Mathematically, Anderlecht is not yet qualified for third place and will have to save its season in the cup final against Union. Club takes power for the first time in the final battle with Union.
liveblog
Ivan Leko: “1-3 doesn’t show how much better we were”
“This feels very good,” said coach Ivan Leko, who takes the lead for the first time with Club Brugge. “We did our thing. The 1-3 does not show how much better we were today. The 0-4 and the 0-5 were closer than the 1-3. We have to enjoy tonight. From tomorrow morning the focus will be on STVV.”
Something was still bothering Leko. Cvetkovic’s 1-3 was too easy. “I was very angry. It’s unbelievable how you can be so naive to lose the ball 20 meters from your goal. In football, one moment can change everything. Just look at the chance they still get… The better you are, the more humble you have to be. You have to treat the ball like a woman, with love and respect. But overall there is joy.”
Tzolis: “More stress yesterday than during my own matches”
“The most important things are the three points and the leadership position,” says Christos Tzolis. “We now have even more control over ourselves. I could have scored more than once, but that is secondary. We can continue to build on this performance.”
Thanks to Union’s defeat at STVV, Club is the new leader. “Yesterday, when Ito kicked that penalty, I was more stressed than during my own matches. Nevertheless, we focus on ourselves.”
It was the Greek’s first interview since missing out on the Golden Boot. “Bad things were said about me even though they don’t know my personality.” Tzolis got after challenging Killian Sardella received a lot of criticism in the first match. “I have respect for every opponent, including Anderlecht. It is and remains a big club.”
Hazard: “Overdeserved victory for Club Brugge”
“A well-deserved victory for Club Brugge,” said Thorgan Hazard. “We knew it would be difficult. Club is playing with confidence and is competing for the title. We didn’t play a bad match, but the best chances were for Club.”
“We were good with the ball without being dangerous. Just when we got into the match better after half-time, we conceded another goal.”
Kana: “We were good between both boxes”
“The difference between Club Brugge and us? That was in both boxes,” Marco Kana saw. “We were not good enough in our box. They were super efficient. We were not good around their box, but we were good between both boxes.”
Anderlecht faces an important week and a half with the move to AA Gent and the cup final. “We are playing against AA Gent for fourth place. That remains a goal. We have to learn our lessons quickly.”
Vanaken: “We have to manage the last ten minutes better”
“We have come very close to our best level,” says Club Brugge captain Hans Vanaken. “We have to manage the last ten minutes better. After 80 minutes you actually have to be 0-5 ahead, because now it was nervous for nothing. We still had to fight, while it should have been a piece of cake. But we can be satisfied with a 1-3 win.”
End of second half
It’s over. Anderlecht managed another goal, but that was it. Club decided the match in two crazy minutes after the break. It is the leader for the first time this season after a full day of play.
Yellow card for Cisse Sandra
Sandra is booked last.
Yellow card for Marco Kana
Kana takes Tzolis and gets a yellow card.
Five minutes extra
We’ll continue playing in the Lotto Park.
Rescue Van den Heuvel
Substitute goalkeeper Van den Heuvel makes a good save on an attempt by Huerta. Important for Club, which would otherwise have gotten into trouble.
1-3 GOAL by Mihajlo Cvetkovic!
After Vetlesen lost the ball, Anderlecht managed to save the honour. Is there more in it for purple and white?
Aleksandar Stankovic is replaced by Raphael Onyedika
Onyedika, who has to replace the suspended Vetlesen next week, will still get a few minutes.
Vermant also shows mercy
Not much later, Vermant is allowed to approach Coosemans alone. He kicks the goalkeeper.
Tzolis misses
This should have been the 0-4. Tzolis carelessly kicks the ball wide from close range.
Yari Verschaeren is replaced by César Huerta
Huerta celebrates his return. The attacker gets fifteen minutes from Taravel.
Carlos Forbs is replaced by Cisse Sandra
Forbs, author of an important goal, can rest.
Nicolo Tresoldi is replaced by Romeo Vermant
The well-known substitution at Club.
Hugo Siquet is replaced by Jorne Spileers
Leko makes a triple substitution.
Match decided
The tension is of course completely gone. Anderlecht is still trying to make the best of it for the home crowd.
Ilay Camara is replaced by Ibrahim Kanaté
Kanaté replaces Camara.
