A dream evening at Lotto Park for the Mauve & Blanc supporters, who nevertheless thought they saw it turn into a nightmare in the second half. Despite being numerically inferior and conceding a penalty, Anderlecht beat Union Saint-Gilloise for the first time in 10 matches, at the best time.
There was a scent in the air, around Lotto Park, that we had not smelled for many years, as we approached this Anderlecht-Union Saint-Gilloise. Finally, for the first time since the rise of its neighbor which had become cumbersome, the RSCA could gain the upper hand in the event of victory. Take back the lead in the championship, and exorcise the demons that have haunted the Mauves since 2017.
The smoke show planned for the occasion is up to the challenge, and even postpones the kick-off due to a lack of visibility. The two teams rush forward, the Union leaves too much space: Killian Sardella seizes his first shooting window. Moris pushes back badly and Kasper Dolberg follows well (1-0, 12th).
From the outset, we understand that it will be difficult for the USG. Everything that was missing in Anderlecht at Jan Breydel is present: aggression, vice, grinta, and a solid Debast-Vertonghen pair. Nilsson and Amoura cannot be found.
Amuzu replaces Hazard
It takes a stopped phase to alert Kasper Schmeichel, who makes the difference, deflecting a header from Ross Sykes onto the board after a corner (30th). Everything was smiling in Anderlecht, until a small blow: the injury exit of Thorgan Hazard, which allowed Francis Amuzu to obtain much more playing time than initially planned (37th).
Really not in their match, losing all their duels, Union Saint-Gilloise could even have reached the locker room trailing by two goals without a save on the line from Christian Burgess in front of Dolberg, after a corner. Moris, once again, had missed his exit a little (41st).
Debast’s mistake
The Union will return to the pitch with a clear objective: to equalize as quickly as possible. The game becomes more precise: Amoura finds Puertas in the rectangle, Schmeichel intervenes (53rd). Anderlecht remains threatening on the counter but is quickly pushed into a fatal error: Debast makes a gesture with his elbow towards Nilsson in the rectangle. It’s a penalty, which transforms Cameron Puertasand a second yellow for the defender (66th, 1-1).
It’s a blow to the coffee pot for Anderlecht, and the Union tries to take advantage of it: Puertas, again, comes close to hitting the square with a curling shot (72nd). But on a counter, it’s euphoria: Killian Sardella takes advantage of a big miss from Terho barely mounted to serve Francis Have fun (76e, 2-1).
Unsurprisingly, at this stage, the adrenaline pushes the RSCA and the stress seizes the Union to such a point that the numerical inferiority is no longer really visible. It is still the visitors who will push, but will come up against an imperial Schmeichel of calm…and their own imprecision.
Each ball taken by the Danish goalkeeper is acclaimed, and Anderlecht will achieve what we ended up believing impossible: beating the Union, for the first time in 10 confrontations. And it’s probably the most important. Because the USG has just lost its head, and will have to put it back together so as not to experience a third disillusionment in as many seasons…
