MATCH REPORTA Brussels derby without Hazard brothers, Thorgan also had to drop out injured in the end. Together with big brother Eden they saw an exciting match between Anderlecht and RWDM. A game that was decided in the final minutes by Luis Vázquez. The Argentinian set the Lotto Park on fire. “This was definitely a difficult match for us.”
Finally a prize in a Brussels derby for Sporting Anderlecht. The Purple & White have already lost seven times in a row against Union, but against RWDM they won from the first time. Even though Anderlecht had to go all the way. The Molenbeek fans even set off fireworks before kick-off. Then we’ve already had that, they must have thought.
Anderlecht did everything they could to make ‘Le derby Bruxellois’ really come alive after more than twenty years. Jean-Claude Van Damme was scheduled to kick off, but ‘The Muscles from Brussels’ was absent because his mother was ill. Pregnant Guy pushed the decibels into the air during the players’ performance and Jacques Brel’s ‘Bruxelles’ resounded through the speakers.
After Kylian Hazard, Thorgan Hazard also had to fail. Insufficiently recovered from a kick, conceded two weeks ago on the field of AA Gent, at Anderlecht they are not too worried. But of course it does save a big sip on your drink. Hazard saw from his box in the Lotto Park how his replacement Alexis Flips had a difficult evening. Player without confidence.
© BELGIUM
It was pleasantly busy in the Hazard box because Kylian and Eden, with one of his sons, also attended the match. Anderlecht started strongly and Leoni – he was preferred over Stroeykens – could have saved his team a lot of misery. Rits put it over the Molenbeek defense with a nice ball, only for Defourny, but Leoni decided too weakly on the goalkeeper.
RWDM’s plan of action was clear. A low block with five defenders and speculation on the counter. For example, RWDM previously won a point on the Bosuil. Now it even scored. A corner kick for Anderlecht quickly turned into a deadly counter for RWDM. Camara and Abe served Mercier, who controlled the score via the post to score 0-1.
The problems for Anderlecht became even greater when it turned out that Dolberg could not continue after Klaus stepped on his foot early in the match. Luis Vázquez was given an hour to shake off the prejudices surrounding his qualities. The Argentinian weighed on the defense and worked his butt off. He had two opportunities, one from close range with the left and one with the head. Defourny was in the right place twice. On the other side, Mercier turned a free kick inches wide of the far post.
© BELGIUM
Riemer brought in Raman and Stroeykens to turn the tide. Anderlecht besieged the Molenbeek goal, but RWDM happily entered the trenches. With eleven in their own rectangle if necessary. Anderlecht had difficulty finding clear-cut opportunities, but were awarded a penalty twenty minutes before the end. Gueye hit Delaney on the ankle and after a VAR check, Lambrechts put the ball on the spot. Dreyer converted the eleven meter.
Anderlecht pushed through in a thrilling final phase. Koné turned a goal from Stroeykens before the line. Camara was shown a red card and in injury time Vázquez pushed Vertonghen’s cross past Defourny. The Argentinian became the match winner and blew the roof off the Lotto Park. Anderlecht thus takes maximum advantage of the points sharing earlier in the day between AA Gent and Union. The Purple & White are now four points behind Union.
LOOK. Brian Riemer: “I had the feeling for a moment that we wouldn’t get the ball in”
Riemer: “For me it was a justified penalty”
“First and foremost I want to say that this was a difficult match for us,” Anderlecht coach Brian Riemer opened his speech after the match. “We played against a well-organized team that worked hard. It was difficult to force an opening, so we knew we had to play fast with a lot of movement. We also knew that RWDM had done well against big opponents.”
“If you concede a goal early, it becomes much more difficult against a team like that. Still, I thought our reaction was good after RWDM’s goal. We played football with a lot of energy, but the quality was insufficient. The combinations didn’t work out, and even though we had a few chances, in the zone of truth we could have handled some situations better.”
“In the second half it was a different story. From the 50th minute we were constantly dangerous. When you see how many chances we had, the victory is well deserved. Of course the penalty had a huge impact on the match. It helped us to open things up. I know my colleague next to me will not agree, but for me it was a penalty.”
“At one point I had the feeling that it was one of those matches where we wouldn’t get the decisive goal. But I have to commend my team for continuing to try. It says it all that our 36-year-old captain overlapped and delivered a great cross to Vázquez in the second zone.”
© BELGA
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90’+7′
End of second half
90’+1′
2-1 GOAL to Luis Vázquez!
The dike still breaks at RWDM. Vertonghen pumps a cross in front of goal and then Vázquez is able to work in at the far post.
89′
Mats Rits is replaced by Majeed Ashimeru
88′
Red card (second yellow card) for Ilay Camara
RWDM still has to face the final with ten of us. Camara goes out of line a second time and is sent off the field.
87′
Xavier Mercier is replaced by Niklo Dailly
87′
Pierre Dwomoh is replaced by Romildo
85′
Vázquez in de draai
Check with the chest, turn and immediately strike: Vázquez does it by the book. However, the Argentinian’s sights were no longer focused after that good action. The ball goes too far wide.
84′
Dreyer over
There’s the Dane! Dreyer appears at the far post, but, just like Sardella, shoots over rashly with his cross.
83′
Sardella in a hurry
Hurry and haste is rarely good. Sardella rashly sends his cross into the stands. At Anderlecht it will have to come from Dreyer.
82′
Yellow card for Ilay Camara
79′
2-1 hangs in the air
RWDM survives. Defourny first parries Raman’s shot, Koné blocks Stroeykens’ rebound on the goal line.
78′
Closing quarters
Will we get another winner? Anderlecht still has fifteen minutes to go to and over RWDM. The team from Molenbeek has not shown anything in the second half so far.
75′
Raman next
The fire is in full swing. The Lotto Park is bursting at the seams, while the supporters are once again fully behind their team. Raman is too surprised to head in a quick 2-1.
75′
Moussa Sissako is replaced by Luis Segovia
74′
1-1 GOAL (Penalty) van Anders Dreyer!
Defourny is there with one hand, but Dreyer’s penalty goes in! It’s 1-1 in the Brussels derby!
© BELGA
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73′
Yellow card for Makhtar Gueye
72′
Penalty Anderlecht
Ref Lambrechts points to the dot after seeing the images. Gueye also gets a yellow card for his outstretched leg on Delaney. Anderlecht gets a unique chance to score an equalizer.
69′
Delaney to the ground
Dreyer reaches the back line with a good action. The pass to Delany is fine, but again a Molenbeek leg causes problems. Delaney remains lying down after the phase: was there contact? We get a VAR check.
68′
Masonry RWDM
Hot position in front of Defourny’s goal. Raman tries to persevere, but printing is not possible. RWDM continues to professionally close all holes.
65′
Jeff Reine-Adelaide is replaced by Pathe Mboup
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