Penalty hero Verbruggen leads Anderlecht to qualification

GAMES Anderlecht have qualified for the 1/8th finals of the Conference League at the expense of Ludogorets. However, it needed penalty kicks to do so. In that, goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen was the big hero. The Dutchman stopped three eleven metres.


Anderlecht had to win and started with an attacking team. Unlike last week, this did not immediately lead to dominance. It was the visitors who claimed possession of the ball in the first half. Although purple-white did not mind. Certainly not because it took an early lead. N'Diaye with the fine steal. Pass to Amuzu. That put his man into the wind and found Slimani in front of goal. The Algerian appeared to kick wide, but Russo deviated the leather into goal: 1-0.

Although Ludogorets had most of the ball, Anderlecht did try to play nice football. At times they succeeded and some chances were created. Verschaeren had a shot blocked and for Stroeykens the angle was just too sharp. His effort hit Padt. On the stroke of half-time, Sardella escaped a red card when he hit Tekpetey, who was breaking through alone. Luckily for Anderlecht, the ref saw no bones in it. Anderlecht went into the break with a lead.

After half-time, the first chance was for Ludogorets. Neressi with the shot, but the ball stranded against the feet of Thiago. Fortunately, as Verbruggen seemed to be heading for the other corner. Apart from a faint shot by Arnstad, Anderlecht did not immediately create any chances. Until halfway through the second half Slimani used his strong body and laid the ball ready for Verschaeren. He did not hesitate and kicked via Padt against the ropes: 2-0. Anderlecht seemed to be on a roll.

Unfortunately, the early break was short-lived. Barely three minutes later Despodov escaped on the right. The flank attacker delivered the perfect cross and you shouldn't give Thiago a ball like that. The Brazilian tapped the ball past Verbruggen into the bottom corner: 2-1. After the goal, Anderlecht went in search of the 3-1. Stroeykens kicked, but Padt saved. Substitute Raman saw that Padt was a bit far from his goal, but his attempt was stranded on the bar. Vertonghen was pushed over after a free kick, but referee Siebert did not see a penalty. Anderlecht continued to press, but extensions had to declare a winner.

The first chances of the extensions were for Ludogorets. In the first minute, Tissera and Despodov were close, but fortunately one of the two was offside. A bit later Despodov was allowed to run towards Verbruggen, but he kicked wide. Then it was Anderlecht's turn again to park in Ludogorets' half. Refaelov kicked, but Naressi cleared the ball off the line with his chest. Meanwhile, Ludogorets were also down to ten after red for Piotrowski. With no additional goals, we went into halftime of the extensions. In the second extension hardly anything happened. Penalty kicks, then.



In the penalty shoot-out, Verbruggen made himself immortal. The goalkeeper took no less than the first three Ludogorets penalties. The Anderlecht kickers, on the other hand, did not fail. First Refaelov, then Vertongen and finally Verschaeren kicked Anderlecht a round further.


Score: 2-1
Goal(s): 13' Russo (1-0, own), 68' Verschaeren (2-0), 71' Thiago (2-1)

Penalty kicks: Pipa (miss), Refaelov (1-0), Yankov (miss), Vertonghen (2-0), Naressi (miss), Verschaeren (3-0)

Anderlecht:Verbruggen, Arnstad (106' Stassin), Sardella, Vertonghen, N'Diaye (93' Sadiki), Diawara (89' Refaelov), Verschaeren, Stroeykens (83' Ashimeru), Dreyer, Slimani (83' Raman), Amuzu (62' Angulo)
Ludogorets:Padt, Witry (12' Pipa), Plastun, Russo, Nedyalkov, Naressi, Piotrowski, Nonato (78' Yankov), Tekpetey (46' Delev), Thiago (90+2' Tissera), Despodov (103' Gonçalves)

Yellow: 16' Stroeykens, 16' Naressi, 26' Piotrowski, 56' Russo, 57' Refaelov, 84' Pipa, 90+6' Tissera, 93' Arnstad, 120+4' Sardella
Red: 97' Piotrowski (2 x yellow)

Referee: Daniel Siebert (Ger)
Stadium: Lotto Park