Anderlecht have done what they had to in Estonia. The Purple & White beat Paide Linnameeskond in the third preliminary round of the Conference League with 0-2. Lior Refaelov took the victory for his team. “Lior is a player who brings a lot to our group”, was Felice Mazzu full of praise.
Did the Estonians want to bully Anderlecht or was it just a careless act? The fact is that the grass in the A. Le Coq Arena – Paide’s own ‘stadium’ was too small to receive the Purple & White – the day before the match against Purple & White, the grass was very long. Too long by UEFA standards, they noted at Anderlecht. The Estonians were allowed to take out their lawn mowers on Wednesday evening. The inhabitants of Brussels had come to Tallinn to play football: that was immediately clear.
The footballing intentions of Felice Mazzu also spoke from the Purple & White line-up. The Italian Belgian surprisingly posted Arnstad, El Hadj and Verschaeren in midfield. A pocket-sized triangle. “I had said beforehand that I was counting on everyone, today I also wanted to show some other guys that I was counting on them,” Mazzu explained after the match.
Up front, Fabio Silva was in the starting line-up for the first time with Lior Refaelov next to him, who at times dropped too far and thus acted as the fourth midfielder. The Israeli did not let grass grow on it. He created the first danger after four minutes. Refaelov slumped on the left, came in and kicked from about 25 meters. Aksalu saved with his fists.
The home team was not indifferent, as Anderlecht got away just three minutes later. Debast headed the ball into the feet of an Estonian, who was kept from an open shooting opportunity by Wesley Hoedt with a sharp tackle. In the restart Hendrik Van Crombrugge had all the trouble to keep the ball out of his short corner.
In minute ten Anderlecht put their affairs in order. Delcroix found Amuzu on the left. With a low cross, the Ghanaian Belgian found Refaelov at the first post. The Israeli cleverly got ahead of his man and pushed in in one go. “That first goal helped us”, Mazzu also said. “After that we could play football more freely.”
The Purple & White then took control of the game. It monopolized the ball, but a flood of great opportunities failed to materialize. On the stroke of half-time Refaelov showed himself once again. The old-age blanket let himself down again, freed himself after a one-two with El Hadj and sent Silva into the street. The Portuguese scored the 2-0 with a nice marker. Thanks to customization Refaelov.
“Our game has to be even better”
“Lior is a player who teaches our group a lot”, Mazzu praised the match winner after the match. “He is a smart player, who moves between the lines a lot, but also a very positive guy. With his attitude, he should set an example for the rest of the dressing room. I saw him do another tackle for our bench well into the second half. You need that attitude.”
Despite the 0-2 victory, Mazzu did not want to speak of a perfect evening. “We should have scored more goals,” said the coach. “And our level has to be even higher. We made a few technical mistakes, especially in the second half, which gave them opportunities as well. It’s good that we kept a clean sheet in the end.”
In a week’s time the return awaits in the Lotto Park – a double lead should not be given away by the Purple & White there, against this Paide. Anderlecht are thus with one and a half legs in the last preliminary round of the Conference League. The Swiss Young Boys may be waiting there, which won 0-2 on Thursday evening at KuPS in Finland.
Anderlecht: Van Crombrugge, Debast, Hoedt, Delcroix, Murillo (73′ Raman), Verschaeren (73′ Trebel), Arnstad (73′ Kana), El Hadj (80′ Stroeykens), Amuzu, Silva (80′ Esposito), Refaelov
Paid: Aksalu, Frolov, Yusif, Klavan, Saliste, Simon, Mool (80′ Mosnikov), Luts (70′ Saarma), Saag (61′ Palumets), Tambedou (70′ Piht), Singhateh (80′ Viidas)
Goals: 10′ Refaelov (Amuzu), 40′ Silva (Refaelov)
Yellow cards: 69′ Arnstad, 80′ Kana
Spectators: 7.500
Referee: David Fuxman (Isr)
