Anderlecht are already with one and a half legs in the next preliminary round of the Conference League, after a complex-free victory on a visit to Paide. Refaelov and Fabio Silva had already put the final score on the board before half time.
Paide – Anderlecht in a nutshell:
- key moment: Anderlecht experienced a difficult opening phase against the enthusiastic Estonians. The experienced Lior Refaelov guided his team through the difficult moment and put the Purple & White on roses early on.
- Man of the match: Francis Amuzu felt comfortable on the wing, but it was Lior Refaelov who led his team past Paide with a goal and an assist.
- Remarkable: Felice Mazzu made 5 substitutions after the defeat against Cercle Brugge, but mercenaries Sebastiano Esposito and Fabio Silva again did not appear together at the kick-off.
Mission accomplished
The first hurdle on the way to the group stage has been cleared. Paide Linnameeskond proved more difficult to pronounce than to beat, although the Estonians did not give up easily either.
It was even the home team that left its mark on the game in the opening quarter. After some quick counter-attacks from Paide, Hendrik Van Crombrugge immediately had to shake his team awake.
Lior Refaelov had understood his goalkeeper’s message well, the Israeli thanked Felice Mazzu for his starting spot with an early goal. The Purple & White took the lead early on.
After that, Anderlecht controlled the game, Paide’s enthusiastic opening storm quickly died down.
A strong Francis Amuzu frolicked with the Estonian defense from his flank, but failed to create any real chances.
Until Lior Refaelov crowned his strong first half with a great assist. The former Golden Boot only put Fabio Silva in front of goal. He thanked his teammate with a second goal for his new club. Match played.
2 goals bonus
If the first half could not really appeal, the second half was really a measure for nothing. Paide was not in a position to cause problems for the Anderlecht defense, the Purple & White were satisfied with the 0-2 lead.
In the end, dSubstitute Sebastiano Esposito had the best chance, but the Estonian goalkeeper whipped the ball out of his goal.
As a result, Anderlecht concluded its first European assignment of the season with an excellent starting position. It returns to Belgium with a 2 goal bonus, where the second part of the confrontation awaits next week.
Mazzu: “We’ve done our job”
Mission accomplished, Felice Mazzu saw that too: “We managed to score twice and not concede a goal, so we did our job. We are aware that the game can be even better and that we had more can score. But we can be satisfied.”
“We played a good first game, except for the first ten minutes. The second half was a bit more difficult, Hendrik (Van Crombrugge) had to make two important saves after a setback. We still have to improve on that.”
The Anderlecht coach also praised man of the match, Lior Refaelov: “He is a very important player in the dressing room. The tackle he does in the 95th minute says it all. With his age and experience, he must transfer the joy of playing to the rest of the group.”
Van Crombrugge: “Were not awake in the beginning”
“We had to be attentive and awake from the start. That was clearly not the case. For the same money you quickly fall 1-0 behind here. Then we would have had to break through a heavy Estonian wall.”
After the defeat against Cercle Brugge, the focus was mainly on the players with experience, but according to the Anderlecht goalkeeper, that is not the problem. “We have enough experience. Someone like Yari Verschaeren already has 100 games on the counter.”
“It is up to us as experienced players to take the mercenaries in tow and bring them into the story to fight for the club. We have succeeded in that in the past, and it will take us with Sebastiano (Esposito) and Fabio (Silva). ) can also work. From the moment everyone wants to fight for the club, you immediately win 15%.”
