Important point in the last minute

GAMES Anderlecht did not manage to keep the championship exciting. Club Brugge was stronger and is the champion, but Anderlecht fought back after a 1-3 deficit. In the added time, Bruun Larsen scored the 3-3. Because of the draw, Anderlecht only needs a draw in Antwerp to finish third.


Anderlecht started relaxed and combined quickly. But as is often the case this season, this stopped at the opponent's penalty area. Bruges was lurking and struck quickly. De Ketelaere passed and Vanaken shoved the ball in unorthodox with his chest. Club Brugge controlled the game after the 0-1. Cullen had to block an attempt by Vormer after he got too much space from Lokonga.

Anderlecht often played backwards and could not put together a single successful attack. The lines were wide apart and Nmecha was on an island. Vormer lashed out again just after half an hour, but Verbruggen was in the right place. But however focused Bruges played, in the last minute Mata made light contact with the hand in the penalty area. We had to wait a while for the VAR, but Nmecha put the ball quietly over Mignolet from the spot and unexpectedly brought Anderlecht to the same level.

 Kompany brought in Amuzu and Bruun Larsen for Ashimeru and Verschaeren after the break. Anderlecht already got away well when Verbruggen faintly boxed away a ball. However, Lang could not frame his attempt. Anderlecht kept looking in vain for its better game. In minute 53 it was a goal for Bruges. De Ketelaere gave the ball in front of the goal and Vanaken was given complete freedom by Cobbaut to head in the 1-2. Less than five minutes later, the Bruges attack struck again. Vormer and Lang combined easily and the young Dutchman defeated Verbruggen with a hard, crossed shot.

But Purple & White still showed a sign of life. Miazga sent a long ball to Nmecha. Kossounou was dreaming and Nmecha outwitted Mignolet with a low place ball. Fifteen minutes before the end, Kompany also got Trebel and Dauda off the bench. The latter shot over from a sharp angle. Anderlecht did everything in its power to get one point. And just like against Antwerp, this happened in the very last minute of the extra time. Murillo went deep and passed the ball to the penalty spot and Bruun Larsen was in the right place to push the ball into goal.

Anderlecht could not prevent Club Brugge from taking the championship, but it took an important point at the last minute, so that a draw against Antwerp now is enough to finish third. Now that Genk finishes second, the cup winner's ticket has moved up. Third place therefore entitles you to European football until the New Year, either in the Europa League or the Conference League. Again thanks to Nmecha. All alone on an island, but kept Anderlecht in the game. Where would Anderlecht have stranded without the German attacker this year?

Score: 3-3
Goal(s):0-1 Vanaken (12 '), 1-1 Nmecha (pen.) (45' + 3), 1-2 Vanaken (53 '), 1-3 Long (57'), 2-3 Nmecha (65 '), 3-3 Bruun Larsen (90' + 3)

Anderlecht: Verbruggen, Murillo, Miazga, Cobbaut, Mykhailichenko (Mukairu 84 '), Sambi Lokonga, Cullen (Trebel 72'), Ashimeru (Amuzu 45 '), Verschaeren (Bruun Larsen 45'), Ait El Hadj (Dauda 72 ') , Nmecha

Club Brugge: Mignolet, Mata, Kossounou, Mechele, Sobol, Rits, Balanta (Mitrovic 90 '+ 2), Vanaken, Vormer, Lang (Okereke 85'), De Ketelaere (Dost 88 ')

Yellow: Balanta (69 '), Nmecha (75'), Sambi Lokonga (86 ')
Red:

Referee: Lawrence Visser
Stadium: Lotto Park