Antwerp against Anderlecht, Thursday February 12 at 8:30 PM
Croky Cup – matchday 1 – 05/02/26 – 20:33
| time | icon | player | homeTime | homeIcon | homePlayer | score | awayPlayer | awayIcon | awayTime |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| goal by Vincent Janssen after 45+3′, 0 – 1 |
The change of coach has not given Anderlecht the boost they dreamed of. Under Edward Still, the Purple & White lost against Antwerp in the first leg of the semi-finals. An own goal from Sardella defeated the Brussels team, two red cards in five minutes made the evening even more painful.
After too much disappointment at Sclessin, now too much disappointment at Lotto Park.
Thanks to the over-enthusiastic Sardella and Diarra. They had taken the fans’ complaints about “soulless players” too literally and went to the shower early within five minutes of each other. A double yellow card and an over-deserved red threw Anderlecht into deep trouble.
Deeper than they already were. At the time of the double exclusion, Antwerp had already been close to 0-2 and the Purple & White had to look for opportunities despite some nice moments. Enthusiastic, without quality.
That is also the word we use for the first half. We saw a lot of duels and intensity, but hardly any opportunities. With Bertaccini as a prototype: pounding and pounding, in all places of the field, but in front of goal it was much less.
He would also kick a great chance to make it 1-1 wide in the second half.
About five minutes before half-time, Sardella took his first card, with a tackle on the foot of Vandeplas.
Not much later the problems started for Anderlecht. De Cat and especially Maamar unintentionally helped Vandeplas on his way to Coosemans, who kept the young striker from scoring the opening goal.
On the corner that followed, the old(er) striker Janssen headed home. Also now: thanks to a leg from Sardella.
Anderlecht tried to put things right after the break, but did so in an uncontrolled manner. The quality was lacking, on both sides.
Antwerp was the most dangerous, Vandeplas again missed a big chance. He forgot to put his foot enough on Foulon’s cross, and Diarra headed over on the other side.
Anderlecht could have put it right, but then Sardella knocked Dierckx over. Visser had no choice but to take a second yellow card.
Just as five minutes later he had no choice but to take the red card when Diarra stepped on Al-Sahafi’s ankle. Debutant Da Costa was allowed to leave after twenty minutes as a victim.
Antwerp subsequently forgot to finish the game completely, Coosemans was crucial in stopping a hard shot from Al-Sahafi.
Then next week, at the Bosuil.
Watch the press conference after Anderlecht-Antwerp:
Comments Antwerp: “It should have been more”
Vincent Janssen (Antwerp): “This certainly feels double. You win at Adnerlecht and that is a nice starting position, but in my opinion it should have been more. There were indeed two good chances for Gerard Vandeplas, but that is football. I have already missed many such opportunities in my career, he will do the same. Let us mainly look at the good of his game, how important he was for us.”
Thibo Somers (Antwerp): “My injury was nothing acute, rather something that gradually became stronger and that is why we decided not to take any risks. The first half was even, we deservedly took the lead. We had a unique opportunity to finish it off, but we showed that we can create chances against eleven men from Anderlecht. In advance we would have signed for 0-1.”
Oosting: “Credits to Coosemans”
Joseph Oosting (Antwerp): “You might point to the missed opportunities, but for me what remains is how we came to play football here. We created a lot of chances, including before half time. Credits to Coosemans by the way, he scored a number of goals.”
“We executed the plan well. Without the ball, but also with the ball. If you see how Dennis Praet played today, to switch sides as a ‘single 6’, I think that is very nice. We were of course helped by those red cards, but I think we should keep the pace higher, that we should look even more for opportunities. We have done that, but I strive for perfection. We could have scored more than one goal. At the moment we have nothing, except a good starting position.”
End
It could have been so much worse for Anderlecht, but they still lost at home to Antwerp. After taking the lead just before half time thanks to Janssen (and weak defending), the lights went out in the Lotto Park to blow the whistle. Sardella (officially also the own goal scorer of the 0-1) received his second yellow card, Diarra followed him five minutes later after a kick on Al-Sahafi’s ankle. It is only thanks to Coosemans and Antwerp’s mediocre finish that The Great Old is not yet allowed to book a ticket to Heysel.
Coosemans intervenes again, although Tsunashima was clearly offside. Antwerp wants to leave Brussels with more than a 0-1.
In the end there is almost twice the double for Antwerp! The first time Verschaeren stops a nice dribble from Hamdaoui, the second time Al-Sahafi delivers a scorching blow. The ball comes very treacherously through the ground towards Coosemans, but he takes the 0-2 out of his goal with a reflex.
Verschaeren is here again! This time too, the shot is not framed, even though he thinks there is another Antwerp citizen behind it. Nozawa gets a yellow card because he comes to complain, it is not clear what.
Antwerp forgets to deepen the gap. Babadi has come on and sprints into the box on the right. Kicking is his choice, and the ball bounces into the stands via the top of the crossbar. Playing centrally might have been better.
Anderlecht prefer to survive, but they do get as far as Nozawa’s sixteen. Verschaeren tries with a kick, which just misses the goal.
Da Costa has been replaced again
Hello, nice introduction for Coba da Costa. Ilic comes to strengthen things, the debutant has been on the field for twenty minutes.
For the fans of Anderlecht, Visser is the dog that has been bitten, but there was only one decision that could follow. Meanwhile, Antwerp finally takes the free kick, Scott shoots wide after a short variation.
Still red!
Leave the shower on, Killian Sardella, Moussa Diarra will be right there! The defender plants his foot in pursuit of Al-Sahafi’s ankle and it is only in the replay that it becomes clear how painful that is for the Saudi. Dark red for the newcomer at Anderlecht, which has nine!
Worth a look
