The second match of Sporting Anderlecht’s preparation for the new season was the traditional practice game against FC Knokke.

The match could not start any better for Sporting, as the first attack immediately resulted in the opening goal. A cross by Chatelle from the right wing was put in by Polak. Anderlecht went looking for more and, a few minutes later on, Chatelle took off on the right wing, his centre reached Kanu, whose attempt, through a local defender, went long. After some thirty minutes of play, Anderlecht were reduced to ten players after Polak had been booked for the second time because of an unnecessary tackle. After that, Sporting put even more pressure on the home team and, two minutes after the Czech’s elimination, Kouyate went through the local defence, but his shot was averted by the home goalie. A few minutes later on, the score was doubled when Kabananga took over a long pass and beat goalie Pannecoucke for the second time. Just before half-time, the third goal was put on the board. Kanu cut through the local defence and scored with a shot in the far corner. Just before half-time, Suarez appeared in front of the keeper, but a defender avoided the goal.

At the start of the second half, ten new Anderlecht players appeared for kickoff. This time Mbark Boussoufa was also present. The Moroccan’s free kick only just went long and, somewhat later on, his shot was saved by the local goalie. A few minutes later on, a header by Kljestan was saved on the line, after which one of the local defenders touched the ball with his hand, he was sent off the field, as a result of which both teams were reduced to ten players. Boussoufa put the penalty in. A few minutes later on, substitute Cordier made a save and, twenty minutes before the final whistle, Biglia scored the fifth goal. Fifteen minutes before the end, Marecek centred from the right wing, Legear took over and the sixth Anderlecht goal was scored. The seventh went in when the local goalie was not able to hold on to Kljestan’s shot and Legear put the ball in. After that, Anderlecht were able to score three more goals in eleven minutes’ time. Goals by Lukaku, one through a penalty, and a goal by Boussoufa put the 10 on the scoreboard. During the final stages of the match, the home team managed to score a consolation goal through Bruning. The score remained the same after that, as a result of which the match ended in a clear victory for Anderlecht.

Text : Fabien Dupont