RSC Anderlecht has closed the first round of the competition with a victory. On the field of Excelsior Moeskroen, the Purple & White won 1-2 after the home team had fought well. There were no less than six substitutions by coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck in comparison to the last match before the break for international matches, at home against Club Brugge. Frank Boeckx was in goal again, Olivier Deschacht and Josué Sá where in defence in front of him. The offensive threesome Nicolae Stanciu - Henry Onyekuru - Massimo Bruno was new in comparison to the the last game.
Early on in the first half, Moeskroen had a big opportunity after Sá fell and opened the way for Bolingi. The striker did not take his chance and missed Boeckx’ goal. After a little more than fifteen minutes, Deschacht and Onyekuru pushed through for RSCA, but did not score. Trebel tried his luck from a distance twice, once through a free kick, but the Frenchman was not able to open the score either. Ten minutes before half-time, Onyekuru took a swing, but Bailly made the save. Right before half-time, Massimo Bruno finally took the lead for the Purple & White, he put in a nice assist by Kums: 0-1.
At the start of the second half, the home team tried to score immediately. An eager Mohamed tried without any luck, but his teammate Omar Govea took a swing and his shot hit Trebel, as a result of which the ball went in Boeckx’ goal. The match went a little slower after this, until substitute Hanni, with a blocked shot, and Kums, with a shot that went long, were dangerous again. Ten minutes before the end, the Purple & White took the lead again: Henry Onyekuru brought a nice one-two with Hanni and put the Algerian’s assist in the far corner. Moeskroen was not able to do anything in reply, at the end of the match Kums was booked (the only card in the match) after a professional foul. For RSCA, the next match will be the home game in the UEFA Champions League against Bayern München, which will take place next Wednesday.
Goals: 42' Massimo Bruno (0-1), 52' Govea (1-2), 80' Henry Onyekuru (1-2)
RSCA: Frank Boeckx, Josué Sá, Uros Spajic, Olivier Deschacht, Leander Dendoncker, Adrien Trebel (63' Sofiane Hanni), Nicolae Stanciu (77' Robert Beric), Sven Kums, Henry Onyekuru (86' Dennis Appiah), Massimo Bruno & Hamdi Harbaoui
