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    Published
    2024-01-26

    Union knocks Anderlecht out of cup

    With more than an hour with ten men, yet Union first held on to Lapoussin's 1-0, added another goal through Rodriguez and held off Anderlecht in lock after the getting one goal back. It ended 2-1 in a cup-bathing Marien Stadium. Union will play the semi-finals, home and away, against Club Brugge in February.

    Joseph Marien

    Written by

    Joseph Marien

    For the eighth time in a row, Union beat their neighbours from Anderlecht. A record in Belgian football.
     

    The Unionists started this cup clash against Anderlecht without Puertas and Amoura. Sadiki operated with Rasmussen behind strikers Rodriguez and Nilsson. The home team dominated, Anderlecht lurched on the counter-attack.

    After an bad pass from Schmeichel, Rits made a vital save on Rodriguez's effort. But it was a stay of execution. Sadiki dived into space on the left, swung past Bouchouari, laid back to Lapoussin and he delightfully popped with one touch for the 1-0.
     

    But even before half-time, things became difficult for Union. Mac Allister brought down Dolberg, who had broken through, and rightly got a red card. With 10 against 11, Union made it to half-time. Anderlecht had time to come back. But the visitors' hopes were dashed when Rodriguez was touched inside the penalty area. Penalty kick and La Rola himself behind the ball. The ball went through the middle of the goal. 2-0 with just under half an hour left on the clock.

    In those last 30 minutes, Union battled to keep the qualification at home. Anderlecht could barely create a chance. The purple and white fans stopped the match for a while, but we won't pay any further attention to that. Dreyer did finish nicely deep into added time for the 2-1, but Union pulled off the victory. For the second year in a row, we advance to the semi-finals of the cup. There, a tough double confrontation with Club Brugge awaits us (7 February in Bruges and 28 February in Forest).
     

    Tickets for the away match are available via the fan clubs, as soon as the info is available, we will also communicate about sales for the home match.