Published
2026-04-27
Union beat ten-man Anderlecht in Brussels derby
Union Saint-Gilloise claimed a 1-3 away victory at Anderlecht. Zorgane put the Unionists in control with a brace, but Cvetkovic pulled one back to keep Anderlecht in the game. After Sardella's red card for a headbutt on Guilherme, it was that same Guilherme who sealed the win in the second half.
The match started with plenty of battling, as both teams cancelled each other out. Union and Anderlecht both had their chances.
Union took control and crushed Anderlecht's hopes. The ball was played back to Van de Perre, who found Khalaili on the right flank. He crossed, Zorgane made a perfect run and headed the ball into the bottom-right corner on the stretch: 0-1.
The first goal only sharpened Union's appetite. Ait El Hadj drove down the right flank and slipped the ball to Zorgane in the centre, who curled a shot from outside the box into the bottom-left corner: 0-2.
Anderlecht refused to give up. Coosemans launched a long clearance, but Khalaili was caught by a shoulder barge in the build-up. Maamar was able to run in and deliver a cross, which Cvetkovic headed powerfully home: 1-2. The VAR reviewed the goal but found no reason to disallow it.
Late in the first half, Anderlecht began to create more chances. Hazard had a go, but his effort lacked the power to trouble Scherpen. The home side were pushing for an equaliser when Sardella headbutted Guilherme. The referee initially showed a yellow card, but after a VAR review, upgraded it to a red.
Despite being reduced to ten men, Anderlecht made the brighter start to the second half. Ait El Hadj tried his luck from distance but fired over. The ball quickly switched to the other end, where Hazard looked to shoot but deflected off Verschueren's heels.
Around the hour mark, a poor pass from Burgess allowed Anderlecht to break. Sykes got his head to the cross to clear. From the resulting corner, the ball fell to Diarra after a scramble, but he shot over from close range.
At the other end, Union broke forward after Zorgane won the ball. Guilherme tried to get a shot off, but Hey blocked it. From the corner, Ait El Hadj's delivery found Hazard's head, which redirected the ball into Guilherme's path. He curled it into the bottom-left corner: 1-3. The Brazilian appeared to have put the game to bed.
Anderlecht kept fighting, however. In the 67th minute, they won a free kick just outside the box. Bertaccini went for goal directly, but Scherpen had it covered. Union comfortably managed the closing stages.
With victory in the Brussels derby, Union hold onto top spot in the Champions' Play-offs.