Nine-man Anderlecht are going down against Antwerp with interim coach Edward Still and are in danger of missing the cup final

It was a matter of knowing in advance how Edward Still would position his troops. The former assistant had always adapted to Hasi, but to be honest he also thought there could be more variation in the attacking game. And that Adriano Bertaccini was much too far from the goal under the previous coach. Against The Great Old, he started in a 4-3-3 with Berta as the spearhead, while Kanaté and Degreef had to provide actions and speed on the flanks. Admittedly, there was more dynamism in the attacking game.

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The purple and white atmosphere groups had warned the players in advance after the 5 on 21. ‘This is not a home for soulless football players.’ The least they asked for was drive and eagerness. Antwerp had not scored in the Lotto Park since 2022. They had to be able to overcome this obstacle. The Purple & White had more than 60 percent ball possession and showed themselves hungry.

Camara out

Only problem. Whether the new coach will be Edward Still, Maarten Martens, Will Still or someone else: no trainer will simply give this core a qualitative upgrade. It remained – on both sides by the way – quite a hold-de-bolder football. Interim coach Still was constantly clapping his hands to boost confidence, but Hazard and Bertaccini continued to struggle. The latter had one big chance before half-time and squandered it. Bertaccini has lost his instincts.

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Antwerp was lurking on the counter with a strong Vincent Janssen as target man. The Anderlecht defense had its hands full. Still had chosen to position mercenary Diarra centrally next to Hey with Sardella (right) and Maamar (left) as backs. The strongest full-back Ilay Camara continues to struggle with injuries and was out again. It is at the rear that things suddenly went wrong. Maamar gave a hospital ball backwards. Coosemans saved Vandeplas’ slider, but the following corner was the prize. Sardella pushed Janssen’s header into his own goal: 0-1. Misery again.

Especially because the home team has not scored for more than 300 minutes since Angulo’s goal at AA Gent. Who would score the hits then? Acquisition Sikan had already rightly been moved to the bank and Nilson Angulo has been sold to Sunderland. Okay, the latter had served a suspension in the Cup anyway, but was still missed. Nilson sometimes thought the equator passed through his… – that’s not wrong for a man from Ecuador – but he was still productive at times. His successor Kanaté is lightning fast, but occasionally outpaced himself.

Red Sardella and Diarra

The frustration increased at Anderlecht. Diarra threatened with a few headers and strong substitute Yari Verschaeren kicked on goal a few times. Still, you couldn’t call those great opportunities. The desired shock effect failed to materialize and then things went completely wrong. Sardella picked up a stupid second yellow card. Not much later, Diarra continued aggressively and the Frenchman was also excluded. Suddenly RSCA only had 9 more men on the field. Then you can try out newcomer Da Costa: you are beyond help.

Anderlecht was very happy that the score remained at 0-1. The return match next week at the Bosuil is therefore not completely a lost cause, but what will that defense look like? Sardella may also be suspended, Diarra, Kana and Camara injured. Good luck. And on Sunday there is the competition match at RC Genk. De Cat is serving a suspension there and no matter how you look at it: that remains an important pawn for the Purple & White. Edward Still was unable to turn things around. Still hasn’t found what he is looking for. Would the new coach be ready to start?

VIDEO. Two red cards in five minutes: after Sardella is allowed to take a shower early after a second yellow card, Anderlecht newcomer Diarra also receives a red card after a three-time tackle on Al-Sahafi