The first hurdle of the Belgian Cup (1/16th final) has not become a problem for Anderlecht. The team from Brussels showed that they take the cup seriously and that mentality led to a simple 1-7 victory against tradition club La Louvière (2nd amateur).
Goals:
- 20 ‘Zirkzee 0-1
- 32′ Guards 0-2
- 35′ Franco 1-2 (pen)
- 39′ Refaelov 1-3
- 45 ‘Zirkzee 1-4
- 75′ Raman 1-5
- 79′ Refaelov 1-6
- 90′ Hats 1-7
View the goals from La Louvière – Anderlecht (1-7)
Kolkende ambiance in La Louvière
It became cup football as you like to see it in La Louvière. The stadium was full for this gala match and in a swirling atmosphere the underdog started without fear, with his chest out and pressing the Anderlecht defense.
The fans were so enthusiastic that the match was stopped for a moment after two minutes because there was too much smoke on the field.
An early yellow card for Magallan and the uncertain performance of Van Crombrugge on his own back line (see video) showed that Anderlecht were a bit bluffed by the start of the home team in the first fifteen minutes. But it didn’t last more than 15 minutes.
Zirkzee opened the score on a pass from Murillo and Hoedt doubled up with a kink after a corner. For a moment the whole stadium believed in La Louvière’s return when Franco made the 1-2 from the penalty spot after a mistake by Murillo. But it was nothing more than a final convulsion.
Refaelov and Zirkzee made it 1-4 before half time. It was striking how La Louvière always showed himself to be too easy in front of goal in the duels with those goals.
Van Crombrugge gives away a corner in a very clumsy way
One-way football in the second half
After the break, the match breathed the atmosphere of a training match. La Louvière barely crossed the halfway line and Anderlecht went wild. Cullen played well, Gomez was very active and Refaelov and Zirkzee also enjoyed the space that was available.
It was a long wait for the 1-5. Substitute Raman took care of that. Refaelov provided the assist and shortly afterwards took the 1-6 after a gift from the La Louvière defense.
Many Anderlecht fans will have hoped to see a glimpse of youngsters Stroeykens and Arnstad, but Kompany kept it business-like and risk-free. El Hadj and Sardella did get some playing minutes.
The last feat of arms was for Hoedt. He scored his second of the evening with a free kick – which should never have been allowed -, but La Louvière’s wall opened and the Dutchman’s attempt fitted in perfectly: 1-7.
- Vincent Kompany: “We played well, but for me the most important thing was our mentality. We showed respect for cup football and for the opponent. We have done good things tactically, but I think that mentality is the most important. sometimes football can be strange, especially if you give something away to the opponent in the cup. That’s why I didn’t change too much about the line-up.”
- Frederic Tease: “We did well until the 1-2, but then we give away the 1-3 and 1-4 too easily and you pay that against a team like Anderlecht. In the second half I thought we were good for half an hour, but I would like to thank Anderlecht for giving everything until the end, because that is a form of respect. It was a fantastic atmosphere.”
The fans want to see youth players.
