Antwerp and Anderlecht get little progress with a scoreless draw, Debast and the post prevent Antwerp’s winning goal
READ ALSO. COMMENTARY. “A holder of footballing Antwerp too little to claim the victory against Anderlecht”
The duel between buddies Alderweireld and Vertonghen never happened. The latter dropped out in the situation with a calf injury. N’Diaye took his place. As is known, Hoedt is also missing, who has difficulty with his substitute status. The 22-year-old Theo Leoni got his first base place in the purple and white football. At Antwerp, Bataille took the place of the injured Vines.
It was Anderlecht that claimed the ball in the opening phase. The combinations were good, but sometimes also sloppy, and opportunities were not immediately created. There was a shot from Amuzu, but it wasn’t really dangerous. He did next. Refaelov also made an attempt, but goalkeeper Butez was able to pick it up easily. There was no improvement in the game level as the first half progressed. Quite the contrary. It was switching from getting stuck in midfield.
In the half we still hadn’t seen a chance in a game that could be called annoyingly bad. Out of the blue to put Stengs Antwerp on leeks, but he ran out. That party didn’t happen. The home team took courage and tried a second time not much later. Balikwisha lashed out, goalkeeper Van Crombrugge saved Anderlecht. Shortly before halftime, Yusuf try it from afar. His shot deviated precariously at Delcroix, but still sailed wide.
Return Trebel
After the break, push Antwerp forward. Ekkelenkamp and Gerkens did it, but were unable to push through completely. Anderlecht make a profit, just like in the second part of the first half. The Purple & White did claim a penalty when Amuzu was pushed by Bataille. Referee Vergoote did not comment on it, but we paid the penalty.
In the middle of the second half, Anderlecht coach Veldman intervened with a triple substitution. Exit Leoni, Diawara and Silva, who did not agree and kicked everything on the bench. Enter Ashimeru, Stroeykens and Trebel, who thus celebrated his return after the shoulder injury that protected him from the side in mid-August. Those exchanges don’t help much. It was Antwerp that was dangerous fifteen minutes before the end through the Valencia come in. Van Crombrugge made the save, and in the second instance also Debast, who took the ball off the line.
The Purple & White got a free kick deep in the slot in an interesting place just outside the box, but Refaelov found the wall. In the end, there were no more goals. Both coordination live to a point where they get nowhere.
Antwerp: Butez, De Laet, Alderweireld, Bataille, Pacho, Gerkens, Ekkelenkamp (76′ Vermeeren), Yusuf, Stengs (76′ Valencia), Janssen (76′ Frey), Balikwisha (88′ Muja).
Anderlecht: Van Crombrugge, Murillo, Debast, Delcroix, N’Diaye, Diawara (64′ Trebel), Leoni (64′ Ashimeru), Verschaeren (79′ Raman), Refaelov, Amuzu (90′ Esposito), Silva (64′ Stroeykens).
Goals: no.
Yellow cards: 45′ Gerkens, 52′ Debast, 68′ Pacho, 74′ Amuzu, 90′ Trebel.
Referee: Jasper Vergoot.