Sunday afternoon in Brussels

I am in Brussels, and not knowing what to do on a Sunday afternoon I decided to waste a bit of money and a couple of hours by going to watch Anderlecht-Cercle Brugge.
In a beautiful afternoon the match was not as boring as one would have expected. A good crowd and an attacking Anderlecht side created a good atmosphere. And early in the second half the locals were up 3-0 after three goals of the young Belgian Landry Dimata. The team also had a well-playing Honduran in Andy Najar and the young Pieter Gerkens, who made it 4-0.
Far outplaying their counterparts and with half an hour left the Anderlecht defense decided to rest, and gave away two lame goals to the opposing side. Despite some attacks, Anderlecht held on to 4-2, but one has to be worried about such concentration lapses if one is to face bigger sides, as Anderlecht indeed will, this coming week when they face Fenerbahce in the Europa League.

In the end it was a match that quickly will be forgotten. And if I had been anywhere more interesting than Brussels, I would have found something else to do.

Anderlecht's transformation

Back in February I was in Brussels and went into watch he Brussels side play and defeat Mols in a match without passion, where the fans expressed deep dissatisfaction about their side. It is now September, and I am back in Brussels, having had to leave Liberia, and again went into watch Anderlecht, this time against Cercle Brugge.
What a transformation! There is a new coach in Besnik Hasi, who seems to have put renewed faith in the side. I saw them first last week against Galatasaray in the Champions League, where they almost got a victory. They have also started the league well, and after 13 matches remains undefeated, and may be well underway for a new title.
What is likeable about the side is the use of many young players. Dennis Praet did not even play against Cercle Brugge, where instead Aleksander Mitrovic, Matias Suarez and Andy Najar scored the goals. The young Honduran in particular was excellent, but also Ibrahima Conte gave the team very good forward movement.
In the end Anderlecht won 3-2, and differing from February there was a great atmosphere, joy and hope about the side. If anything was not good it was the two goals by Cercle Brugge; Anderlecht was in control of the entire match, and the to goals by Cercle Brugge were a dent on this.
But Anderlecht could be a team to watch this season!