Anderlecht is still on schedule to (easily) reach the next round of the Europa League. That’s the good news. But the Purple & White lost their perfect report against Riga FS. Stroeykens seemed to give a very poor RSCA the victory, until the Latvians scored their deserved equalizer in injury time: 1-1. The balance remains 10 out of 12, but the football was mediocre.
It should be a playground, the Europa League for Anderlecht. For now anyway. In our Belgian competition, the Purple & White sometimes have to walk on their toes to deliver top performances, but on the European stage everything has gone very smoothly so far. A start with 9 out of 9 ensured that there was little pressure on the move to Riga. In itself RSCA could then freewheel – pure fun – but in reality it was apparently difficult to be sharp in Latvia. Slow, slower, slowest.
Goals disallowed
However, we were surprised when we saw the match sheet of Riga FS. Were Ikanieks and Paniek in the starting team? When we focused our attention, it turned out to be Ikaunieks and the Balkan boy Stefan Panic. The home team did not deserve our jeers, because they presented themselves very stiffly. For example, after five minutes Savalnieks was sent off, after which Panic pushed in his cross. Fortunately, that goal was disallowed for offside.
Anderlecht had been warned, but the alarm did not inspire them to play better football. Coach David Hubert had of course rotated a bit and introduced the Rits-Leoni-Degreef triangle in midfield. Yes, youngster Tristan Degreef was number 10, but the trio had no momentum in the team. At the front was Kasper Dolberg, who got a taste of scoring last week. Hubert gave the Dane the opportunity to continue his run of 5 goals. However, of course, opportunities had to be created for this.
Actually, that only worked once before halftime. Françis Amuzu turned well away from his man and advanced quickly. Ciske played well on Degreef who cunningly served Dolberg. His ball went against the ropes and this was truly a textbook goal. Unfortunately, Dolberg had recently pushed over his guard. The VAR intervened and the party was cancelled.
It was a warm-up in a lackluster game. Anderlecht was banned from bringing visiting fans, but there were still many RSCA supporters in the Daugava Stadium. In some subjects there are even more Belgians than Latvians. Did they have to fly 3,000 kilometers for this match and make such an effort to get in (illegally)? The Purple & White even escaped falling behind twice. It was again Coosemans to the rescue. First the keeper parried an attempt by Njie and after the break he stood firm when Kouadio charged at him alone. If your goalkeeper is already the star against a team like Riga FS…
Weak Dreyer
Want plow was surely an adequate description. Make short work of those Latvianswe kept thinking. RFS fought for what it was worth, but was anything but a high flyer. Anderlecht even had 64 percent possession of the ball in the first half hour without being dangerous. Anders Dreyer did very little of it again. His corners also went nowhere.
David Hubert did intervene. He brought Mario Stroeykens into the team, among others, and that turned out to be a significant added value. Super Mario took control of the game and played some good balls to Dreyer. Three times unfortunately. He didn’t use it for any purpose. Substitute Luis Vazquez also did not give up. Stroeykens then thought: I do it myself. He accepted a ball and turned it wonderfully into the cross: 0-1. No, the football did not improve, but a bang like that made up for a lot. Stroeykens is increasingly worth that 20 million. Sorry Mario, because I ever doubted you in the past.
The ideal scenario for Anderlecht seemed to unfold after all. The people of Brussels were aiming for the leading position in the Europa League with a perfect score of 12 out of 12. However, the Belgians still got what they deserved in injury time. RFS showed up again. Colin Coosemans made a third super save, but on the rebound it became 1-1 via an own goal by N’Diaye. Still a downer.
Anderlecht could have been at the top alongside Lazio in a ranking with 36 teams. The whole of Europe then started talking about them. Only Leoni and co. shot. in Riga itself. Latvia was not a fun country. The Purple & White remain on schedule to reach the next round – the intermediate round is almost a fact – but the perfect report is no longer.
At the front of the home team: a certain Ikaunieks. In Dutch that sounds kind of lame, but it quickly became clear that he can do something. After just four minutes, the attacker released by Zanka – good for eighteen goals this year – deflected a cross past Coosemans. Fortunately for the Purple & White, the flag immediately went up. Left back N’Diaye had himself caught in the back, but his man was offside. It was certainly a warning that could count: there was no hangover for the brand new Latvian champion and cup winner.
Dolberg’s mistake
The Belgian visitors, with Verschaeren, Stroeykens and Edozie on the bench, remained calm – logical, with a 9 out of 9 in Europe – but it could have been a little more. They did not get further than blocked shots from the young Degreef and Amuzu in the initial phase. Only after twenty minutes did we see a first smooth (counter) attack and that immediately led to a goal. Amuzu cleverly turned away from his opponent, advanced, then served Degreef, who placed Dolberg alone in front of goalkeeper Ondoa (ex-Oostende). The Dane remained icy calm and finished, but he too could not cheer for long. The VAR called the referee to the screen and based on the images he decided to reject the 0-1. Dolberg had committed a foul on the way to goal, or so it seemed.
For a moment, Dolberg was allowed to cheer.
Photo: REUTERS
It was remarkable that we had a “We are Anderlecht!” heard rolling from the stands. The fans were not welcome after the misery at Real Sociedad, but enough of them still got a ticket. Not that it helped the team much, because the first half dragged on, RSCA barely managed to do anything against RFS’s five-man defense, and at the end a fantastic reflex from Coosemans was needed on Njie’s header.
David Hubert did not make a substitution yet, but shortly after the break it was almost bingo again. Simic was completely fooled by a tight long pass and Kouadio came face to face with Coosemans this time. However, the striker delivered a weak, central shot and Anderlecht escaped again. Of all the positive things we saw on Sunday against KV Kortrijk (4-0), not much remained, and so a triple substitution followed around the hour mark. Stroeykens, Edozie and Vazquez came to relieve Degreef, Amuzu and Dolberg.
Finally opportunities
It must be said: Dreyer was also eligible, but he was allowed to remain standing. The winger then had an excellent shooting opportunity, but – partly due to the mediocre grass surface – he aimed high. His second attempt was too weak and could not worry Ondoa. The biggest opportunity, however, was for Edozie, who thought he would nod in a cross from Stroeykens, but collided with the goalkeeper. In any case, things were finally starting to move a bit. Who knows, a final offensive might still be possible, with Foket also invaded.
In the background a disappointed N’Diaye, afterwards.
Photo: BELGIAN
For ten minutes it seemed like it would end in a bloodless 0-0 again, but that was not expected by Stroeykens. He cut to his inferior left and curled the leather wonderfully into the far top corner. Super Mario to the rescuewith his fourth goal of the season. He seemed to give his team 12 out of 12, but they still had to pay attention, especially with six minutes of added time. And yes, in the last seconds it was still 1-1. Coosemans made a save, but the rebound went in via N’Diaye. Depressed faces at Anderlecht after all. There will be more pressure on the match against Cercle Brugge.
