Ten-man Anderlecht defeat Westerlo 2-0

Anderlecht beat Westerlo 0-2 through first-half goals by Gillet and Frutos despite playing a large part of the game with ten men. Makeshift right-back Mark De Man took a second yellow card at the half-hour mark.


Right from the start, Anderlecht controlled the game and pressed on. This lead to major chances within the first five minutes. Boussoufa isolated Vlcek, but the Czech's shot was blocked by Westerlo goalie De Winter. Then, a cleared Boussoufa kick landed in front of Polak. His fierce shot hit the post. Anderlecht's efforts paid off fifteen minutes into the game. Gillet broke through the home side's off side trap and put the ball past De Winter.

Anderlecht's luck seemed to turn, however, when Mark De Man was shown two yellow cards within five minutes. The substitute rightback had trouble to get a hold of the quick Dirar and was twice forced to make a foul. Gillet took his place at rightback.

Westerlo saw an opportunity to stunt against the Belgian league's team in form, but it was the visitors who took the home team by surprise. Before the half-time break Frutos managed to put Anderlecht 2-0 ahead. A Vlcek low shot from outside the box bounced in front of the tall striker's feet and the Argentinian simply put the ball past the Westerlo goalie.

In the second half Westerlo put Anderlecht on the pressure. The reigning Belgian champions tried to break out on the counter-attack. The visiting defense stood their ground, however, and Westerlo had trouble creating chances. 60 minutes into the game Zelenka had a chance, but the ex-Anderlecht player's effort found an excellent Schollen on its path. Immediately after, Stef Wils could not keep his cool when he put the ball wide over.

At the other end of the pitch Anderlecht wasted their few chances to finish the game. First, Frutos's shot was blocked by De Winter. Later, Legear, who had come to replace Vlcek at half-time, opted for a shot when he could have passed to Ahmed Hassan in front of the goal.

All in all, Anderlecht easily stood their ground and continue their sizzling form. Ariel Jacob's men have won their last six games and keep their second place.

Score: 0-2
Goal(s): 14' Guillaume Gillet, 35' Nicolas Frutos

Westerlo:Yves De Winter, Wouter Corstjens, Bernt Evens (85' Joris Van Hout), Rachid Farssi, Gunther Vanaudenaerde, Jef Delen, Emanuel Sarki (85' Emanuel Obiora Odita), Stef Wils, Lukas Zelenka, Nabil Dirar (64' Dieter Dekelver), Bart Van den Eede
Anderlecht:Davy Schollen, Mark De Man (27' / ), Olivier Deschacht, Guillaume Gillet, Roland Juhasz, Jelle Van Damme, Lucas Biglia, Mbark Boussoufa (75' Ahmed Hassan), Jan Polak, Nicolas Frutos (88' Luigi Pieroni), Stanislav Vlcek (46' Jonathan Legear)

Yellow: 35' Bart Van den Eede, 55' Nabil Dirar, 63' Jelle Van Damme, 68' Wouter Corstjens
Red: 27' De Man (second yellow card)

Referee: Verbist
Stadium: Kuipke