RSC Anderlecht beat KV Mechelen 1-0 in the Pro League, taking the points with a single strike before half-time. Tawfik Bentayeb scored the goal that separated the sides, assisted by Ilias Koutsoupias, as the home side's pressure and corners failed to produce an equalizer.

Match Summary

The first half was slow to yield a goal and then suddenly decisive. Giulian Biancone was shown a yellow card after five minutes. Andrew Omobamidele was booked as well before the interval. Anderlecht still found a way through late in the period. Bentayeb had Anderlecht in front after 43 minutes, and Koutsoupias supplied the assist. KV Mechelen went into the break a goal down, with the contest now about whether they could answer.

They spent the second half trying. The hosts pushed for a way back while Anderlecht, already in front, held the majority of the ball. Koutsoupias was cautioned on the hour. Mechelen kept winning corners and getting shots away, but the finishing touch did not come. Leo Petrot was booked late for the visitors. No red card arrived to change the numbers on the pitch, and no second goal arrived to change the score. Anderlecht saw out the 0-1 result.

Key Moments

The goal so close to half-time was the swing that lasted. Mechelen had almost no time to respond before the interval, and after the restart they were chasing rather than splitting the points. A one-goal lead, protected with the ball, was enough.

Mechelen's set-piece volume was the other moment that never turned. Ten corners offered repeated chances to test Anderlecht from wide areas. That pressure sat alongside 14 shots and four on target. It still did not draw them level, which is why the away win held.

Anderlecht's discipline was tested without breaking. Four yellow cards, including cautions for Biancone, Omobamidele, Koutsoupias, and Petrot, never became a sending-off. Both teams finished with 11 players. The home side had a full team with which to chase the deficit and still could not score.

Match Statistics

Possession sat with Anderlecht at 66 percent, against 34 for Mechelen, a platform for an away side that had taken the lead. Shots finished 14 each. Mechelen led on shots on target by four to three and on corners by 10 to five. Yellow cards were one for Mechelen and four for Anderlecht, with no reds shown. The visitors won by converting the chance that mattered, not by running up a shot advantage.

See also

• KV Mechelen vs RSC Anderlecht live score
• AltBets live scores
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• Match recaps