RSC Anderlecht returned empty-handed from their visit to KV Oostende tonight, Saturday 10 February. Two goals in the first fifteen minutes were fatal. In addition, Leander Dendoncker was shown a red card and Sven Kums took his fifth yellow card of the season, as a result of which both players will miss the away match at STVV next week.
Coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck changed his system slightly, and Ivan Obradovic, Alexandru Chipciu and Pieter Gerkens returned to the starting line-up. The Purple & White started the game with a lot of pressure, but were soon disappointed. Bjelica with a centre from the left wing, Leander Dendoncker was unfortunate and scored an own goal. After fifteen minutes of play, the second goal against followed when the Purple & White defence was too slow on a home corner. Antonio Milic scored the 2-0. Obradovic was dangerous for the visitors after that, but his shot went wide. Ganvoula also tried, after a header by Kums, but the attempt went long. Apart from that, the Purple & White were not able to put any pressure on the home team, who relied on counters. At half-time, then, RSCA was 2-0 down.
At the start of the second half, Lukasz Teodorczyk came in as a second striker. This resulted in necessary pressure, but a game-tying goal did not follow. A shot by Kums was blocked by the home defence, while Ganvoula was offside on an RSCA free kick. Kenny Saief was close to scoring, but the crossbar prevented his free kick from going in. In minute 67, KVO was not able to score the 3-0 on the counter, Canesin’s shot went long. Five minutes later on, Zivkovic pushed through with a counter attack, Dendoncker intervened and was sent off the field. Reduced to ten players, the Purple & White managed even less to go forward, although Teodorczyk was close to scoring the 2-1 at the end of the match. The Polish striker hit the post after a free kick by Saief. As a result, RSCA had to leave Oostende without any points, and only 3 points out of 12 the past few weeks. Next Friday, they will visit STVV.
RSCA : Matz Sels, Dennis Appiah (62' Francis Amuzu), Uros Spajic, Leander Dendoncker, Ivan Obradovic, Sven Kums, Pieter Gerkens, Ryota Morioka (76' Josué Sá), Alexandru Chipciu (46' Lukasz Teodorczyk), Kenny Saief & Silvère Ganvoula
Goals : 7' Dendoncker (owngoal, 1-0), 15' Milic (2-0)