Victory with a bow and a black edge: Anderlecht receives goals from Cercle, but sees two strong players drop out

Judging by his morals on the sidelines, Brian Riemer is more the cursing than praying type. Now the Dane will also light at least a candle. Halfway through the play-offs, Anderlecht is in the lead and for the time being only has Club Brugge in its wake – Union plays on Thursday evening. But, with three of the five home matches already behind them, they will have to win at Cercle Brugge on Sunday to rise above mediocrity.

But above all, hence the candles and prayers, who will take care of the threat? Because after Thorgan Hazard, Anders Dreyer now also dropped out. Not for months with a knee injury, but with an apparent hamstring injury. Dreyer, that’s the MVP, 18 goals and 8 assists. How long can Anderlecht survive without him? And how? ‘Ciske’ Amuzu may be back, but according to Riemer he is not fit enough to start every match. What about Nilson Angulo, the 20-year-old Ecuadorian, good for five goals in the second division but sometimes a bit rash? And while Stroeykens on the left winger is also half an emergency solution for Riemer. So worries for Riemer. Also because Kasper Schmeichel raises questions. He was also replaced injured. The play-offs claim their victims, the purple and white squad is gradually becoming thin.

Unless of course everything goes well, the injuries to Schmeichel and certainly Dreyer give a pitch-black edge to the victory against Cercle Brugge. A smooth win, by the way, in which a midfield with Delaney and Rits was no problem. And from which it could not yet be concluded whether Stroeykens as a left winger is a long-term option. Anderlecht received too much gift wrapping for that, even though Schmeichel was tested by Denkey after 20 seconds. It would turn out to be the only decent green-black attack.

Emergency defense at fault

The T-shirt they wore beforehand at Cercle Brugge spoke volumes. “Get well soon, Edgaras”, a heart under the belt for the injured Utkus. Not to mention Daland and Popovic (suspended) and Nazinho and Semedo (injured). “Get back soon, everybody”, coach Muslic must have thought early in the match. Siquet who stood against his foot on the left and twice gave a pass stupidly over the sideline. Ravych who had trouble holding his own a few times, literally. The Association’s emergency defense immediately showed that Anderlecht would get through sooner or later. It was getting relatively early.

Photo: Isosport

Dreyer threatened first but decided weakly on Warleson. Cercle already started to collapse halfway through the first half. Debast put a falling volley wide, and Stroeykens, cutting inside, blasted Dreyer’s cross over. A few seconds later it was 1-0. Dreyer, again he, found Leoni, who with a wonderful pirouette outwitted Ravych, 19-year-old Lietaert and Warleson. Too easy, but beautiful. Barely 18 seconds later it was up to Lopes Da Silva to blunder. He missed his pass and launched Dolberg, who served Dreyer: 2-0.

Photo: BELGA

Coosemans debut

Dreyer then had to leave with a hamstring injury – replacement Amuzu immediately aimed wide – but even greater was the consternation that Schmeichel also remained in the dressing room during half-time. As a result, Colin Coosemans celebrated his official debut for the first team in his third year at Anderlecht. Despite the forced substitutions, Anderlecht had no trouble controlling the second half. When Warleson also blundered and dropped the ball, Leoni was gifted his second goal: 3-0.

Warleson drops the ball and sees Leoni make it 3-0.

Photo: Isosport

The focus was already on Sunday. Who is fit for duty with the league leader? Can Cercle, with Popovic and Daland available on Sunday, close the gaps at the back or is it a mess? But still, can Anderlecht get points away from home for the first time in these play-offs? It will be necessary, no matter who it is with.

Photo: BELGA