Defeat against Gent

GAMES With two match days to go, Anderlecht doesn't have the qualification for the Champions play offs in their own hands after a 1-0 defeat in Gent. Anderlecht was the better team in Gent especially after half-time, but forgot to seize the moment as often this season. A counter by Gent, late in the game, sealed the fate of the purple-white.


It was immediately clear that this would be far from a rehearsal for the cup final. Both Gent and Anderlecht immediately created danger. After that, there was no real danger, but the game went on and on, although they didn't always play cleanly. Anderlecht didn't have an easy time with Gent's offensive power and it was difficult to reach the attacking players and to keep the ball in the team for a long time.

Although Gent had more of the ball, the purple-white gradually created more danger. Refaelov and Zirkzee tested Roef from distance. On the other side, a dangerous ball was cleared after Hoedt had made things too difficult for himself. Van Crombrugge also got out of the way. On the half hour Verschaeren almost crossed the field on an outbreak, but Kouamé was unable to control the ball. The 0-0 score at half-time was therefore not illogical.

After the break, Anderlecht kept Gent well under control. Just before the hour, the purple and white started a mini-offensive. Just before the hour, Verschaeren saw a hole to shoot, but Roef parried. Anderlecht then had the chance to take the lead, but Hoedt headed a free kick too centrally at goal. After Refaelov had put a shot over goal, he served Gomez in the next phase, but Roef saved well again.

Anderlecht was the better team after the break, but ten minutes before time, they got the lid on the nose. At a breakout, Kums isolated Tissoudali in a good position in front of goal. Magallan came too late and the Moroccan striker gave Gent the lead. Anderlecht suddenly had to go in search of the equaliser. Kouamé received a cross from Gomez, but he hesitated too long. Anderlecht got six minutes extra time to avoid defeat, but Ngadeu made Gomez' crosses harmless.

Anderlecht forgot to seize the moment after the break when they controlled the match and got a number of chances. A successful counter by Gent was enough to keep the three points at home and to put Purple-White in foul trouble in the battle for the Champions play-offs. It is now in fifth place because Gent has won a game more. Paars-wit must now count on Cercle Brugge and OHL to still steal points from Antwerp and/or Gent. And of course it may not let a stitch drop against Charleroi and Kortrijk.

Programme Antwerp:
OHL - Antwerp
Antwerp - Cercle Brugge

Programme Ghent:
Cercle Brugge - Ghent
Ghent - OHL

Programme Anderlecht:
Anderlecht - Charleroi
Kortrijk - Anderlecht

Score: 1-0
Goal(s): 1-0 Tissoudali (81')

Gent:Roef, Okumu, Ngadeu, Torunarigha, Samoise (Hanche-Olsen 83'), Kums, Hjulsager (Owusu 79'), Castro Montes (Nurio 83'), Odjidja, Tissoudali (Bezus 90'+2), Depoitre (Lemajic 79')
Anderlecht:Van Crombrugge, Murillo, Magallan, Hoedt, Gomez, Cullen, Ashimeru, Refaelov (Ait El Hadj 76'), Verschaeren (Amuzu 74'), Zirkzee (Raman 76'), Kouamé

Yellow: Magallan 18', Gomez 28'
Red card:

Referee: Jonathan Lardot
Stadium: Ghelamco Arena