This Sunday, RSC Anderlecht played Leuven in their first game of the new year after a short winter break. Coach Vincent Kompany made one change his starting 11 compared to the last game against Beerschot. Percy Tau, who joined Brighton after six months in Brussels, was replaced in the squad by Anouar Ait El Hadj. Sporting lost the game in Leuven with 1-0.
After some initial attempts by Lukas Nmecha and Josh Cullen, the first real chance came 15 minutes into the first half. Albert Sambi Lokonga made space for himself and found Lukas Nmecha running into the box. He tried to reach Francis Amuzu at the second post, but the young winger came too late to open the score. Some minutes later, the home goalkeeper almost conceded a goal when an attempt by Paul Mukairu was deflected by a defender. Ten minutes before halftime, the first danger from the home team came from an attempt by Casper De Norre, but Hannes Delcroix denied him from scoring. 0-0, a logical score at the break.
In the second half, Francis Amuzu was looking for an assist from the right wing. A first cross from the winger reached Nmecha, but his attempt did not find the back of the net. A second cross by Ciske found Mukairu by the second post, who saw his attempt saved by an alert Rafael Romo. After an hour of play, Albert Sambi Lokonga had to leave the pitch injured. Hannes Delcroix, who extended his contract until 2024 this week, took over the captain's band. RSCA dominated the second half, but did not succeed to open the score. Three minutes before the end of the game however, it was Leuven which took the lead. Killian Sardella made a foul in the box, giving away a penalty right before full time. It was Thomas Henry who made it 1-0 from the penalty spot. Final score 1-0, an undeserved loss for Sporting in the last minutes of the game.
Goal : 87’ Henry (1-0, pen)
OHL : Romo, Jemelka, Ngawa, Hubert, Henry, Mercier (90+1 Vekemans), Vlietinck, Sowah, De Norre, Malinov (76’ Eppiah) & Maertens (89’ Kotysch)
RSCA : Wellenreuther, Sardella, Miazga, Delcroix, Lawrence (77’ Murillo), Lokonga (63’ Colassin), Cullen, Amuzu, Ait El Hadj (84’ Kana), Mukairu (77’ Dauda) & Nmecha
