Sporting Anderlecht beat The New Saints 1-3 in the first leg of the Champions Leauge’s third qualifying round in Wrexham tonight, Tuesday 27th July 2010. Sacha Kljestan, Jonathan Legear and Matias Suarez scored the RSCA goals.

RSCA immediately went for it in Wrexham. During the first minutes of the game, an attempt by Jonathan Legear had to be averted. A few minutes later on Mbark Boussoufa took his chance, but the Moroccan’s shot was stopped by TNS goalie Harrisson. After just five minutes of play, captain Olivier Deschacht’s long shot hit the crossbar. Anderlecht would eventually open the score after seven minutes. A centre by Matias Suarez did not reach Jonathan Legear’s head, but Sacha Kljestan did manage to put the ball in, beyond the reach of Harrison: 0-1. And only twenty minutes had gone by when the 0-2 appeared on the scoreboard. Jonathan Legear’s attempt hit the post and went in. The Purple & White had some opportunities to score the 0-3 during the first half, through Sacha Kljestan and Matias Suarez, but their attempts only just went wide. After thirty minutes of play, the home team reacted by way of Craig Jones, whose header went wide. The first half, then, ended in a 0-2 lead for the visitors.

After half-time, the home team started best and went looking for the tying goal. And they managed to score early on in the second half, through Craig Jones, who did not leave Silvio Proto a chance: 1-2. Anderlecht seemed to be somewhat lost, but did decide the match when a cross by Jonathan Legear reached Matias Suarez, who beat home goalie Harrisson with a header: 1-3. Anderlecht coach Ariël Jacobs carried out three substitutions during the final stages of the match, but the score remained the same.

The second leg of the third CL preliminary will take place at the Constant Vanden Stock stadium next week, on Tuesday 3rd August 2010.