Sport

"They should have killed them, but they didn't"

Club Bruges have recaptured the lead in the football league finale, the 10-day round-robin Play-off 1 competition. Bruges beat defending champions Anderlecht 2-1 at home, coming back after an early scare. Analysts agreed it was a missed chance for Anderlecht, who were the better team for most of the match: "They should have killed Bruges, but they forgot to do it."
Michaël Torfs
Bruges hero Ruud Vormer celebrates with the crowd.

The classic between Club Bruges and Anderlecht saw the two main title rivals in a match-up in Bruges. Anderlecht were determined to do well after a very poor performance the week before, when they lost at Standard, and also after being downed by Club Bruges in the Cup Final one month ago.

In fact, Anderlecht did well. The Brussels club took a deserved lead in the first half with Serb top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic striking again. Anderlecht could have doubled the lead easily, but Golden Shoe Dennis Praet, not in his best form since being sidelined for a long time due to a back problem, missed.

Anderlecht were also a bit unlucky when they were not given a penalty and when a goal was disallowed for offside. Bruges survived the Brussels storm with just 0-1 on the boards, and accelerated in the last quarter of the match to turn the tables completely. Substitute Obbi Oulare headed home a corner first, with Dutch midfielder Ruud Vormer taking the Bruges fans to the delirium in the final minutes, 2-1.

Anderlecht only had themselves to blame, missing their chances and doing some poor defending in the second half. In other action, KV Kortrijk and Charleroi drew 1-1. Friday, AA Gent posted an impressive win at Standard to confirm their title ambitions. Many are putting them on number 2 now before Anderlecht.

Leaders Bruges now have 37 points, AA Gent have 35, Anderlecht 32, Kortrijk 30, Standard 30 and Charleroi 29. There are 7 days of play to go. AA Gent host arch rivals Club Bruges next Sunday.

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