RSC Anderlecht visited Zulte Waregem at the Regenboog Stadium on Saturday 26th November 2011. Traditionally not an easy task for the team from Brussels and this showed as the Purple & White were down 2-0 after an hour worth of play. Sporting, however, turned the tide during the final stages of the match and turned a loss into a win in five minutes’ time. First a header by Marcin Wasilewski went in and substitute Tom De Sutter took the victory for Anderlecht with two goals in three minutes’ time.

Roland Juhasz came back in central defence after having been suspended for the match against STVV. Lukas Marecek, too, was in the starting line-up, Ziguy Badibanga started on the bench. Anderlecht controlled the beginning of the game and created a few chances via Gillet and Jovanovic, but the home team were closest to the opening goal. A free kick by Maréval hit the crossbar. Ariël Jacobs’ lads reacted via Matias Suarez. Bossut was able to avert an attempt by the Argentinian, Fernando recovered the ball, but his shot missed power. A few minutes later on, Silvio Proto made a brilliant save on a free kick by De Fauw. At the end of the first half, Bossut saved after a cross by Wasilewski. The best opportunity for the Purple & White was a shot by Gillet which only just went wide.

At the beginning of the second half, Sporting kept on putting pressure on the home team and came close to scoring the opening goal. Matias Suarez found Milan Jovanovic, but Bossut made a good save. Just before the sixtieth minute of play, however, Essevee found his way to the goal with a counter. Chevalier reached Jérémy Serwy, Marcin Wasilewski threw himself in front of the shot, Silvio Proto was turned and the ball went in: 1-0. Ten minutes later on, the score even became 2-0 when Sporting’s goalie misjudged a weak shot by Teddy Chevalier. Twenty minutes before the final whistle, Anderlecht coach Jacobs put Tom De Sutter in, which would turn out to be a decisive substitution. Eight minutes before the end of the game, Marcin Wasilewski was able to put a long pass by Proto in: 2-1. The tying goal provided Sporting with spirit again and, one minute later on, Behrang Safari reached Matias Suarez, who fed the ball to Tom De Sutter, who scored the equalizer: 2-2. Anderlecht pushed through and the winning goal, too, was scored by Tom De Sutter. This time the striker put in the 2-3 with a header. Sporting, then, unexpectedly take the three points during the final minutes of the match, after having been behind 2-0.

Anderlecht stay in the lead of the Jupiler Pro League thanks to this win. The Purple & White’s next game, against AEK Athens, will take place on Thursday 1st December 2011. The next JPL match is the home game against OHL next Sunday.