RSC Anderlecht has been crowned the big winner of the opening day of the Champions’ Play-Offs. And the Purple & White owe this largely to Thorgan Hazard. Not so much because of his footballing qualities, but for a ‘tactical theater piece’.
The play-offs could hardly have started better for RSCA. After all, leader Union SG immediately crashed on the KRC Genk field on Monday evening. Anderlecht took the full spoils. As a result, the Purple & White are only ‘half a point’ behind in first place.
Determinative exclusion
However, the record champion did not play a great match against Antwerp FC, which was the dominant team, especially in the first half. But an important turning point occurred just before halftime. The visitors ended up with one man less after a red card for Owen Wijndal.
According to analyst Philippe Albert, this exclusion also determined the match outcome. “For me, Antwerp has beaten itself. Because if the Great Old remains with eleven, they will not lose there. Wijndal’s exclusion ensures that Anderlecht starts PO I with a victory,” said SudPresse.
Play
Wijndal eventually got red after he made a movement with his forehead in an altercation with Hazard. However, there didn’t seem to be much going on. But because Hazard went to the ground quite theatrically, the VAR decided to intervene and ref Jasper Vergoote ultimately gave a red card.
Antwerp coach Mark van Bommel thought that was ‘cleverly done’. Analyst Marc Degryse still has his reservations about it. “I don’t think it’s nice of Thorgan Hazard. I didn’t expect that from him: it’s a little bit of acting and hitting on the opponent,” he says. The last news. “The play by Thorgan Hazard that earned Owen Wijndal a red card may be called smart, but it is nothing to be proud of,” said Ludo Vandewalle of The newspapaer.
