Westerlo travelled to Brussels on Saturday night to take on Anderlecht at Lotto Park and could have come away with all the points but had to settle for the draw as the game ended 2-2.
Bryan Reynolds started on the right wing just behind Griffin Yow, who was back in the starting line-up after speculation that he would be sold before the transfer window closed. With no deal done for the American Olympian, he has returned to the Westerlo fold, although his first start of the season was cut short due to injury. He was subbed off at half-time, whereas Reynolds went the full 90 minutes.
The home fans was happy to see the return of Leander Dendoncker, an Anderlecht favorite who last played for les Mauves in 2019 just before leaving for Wolverhampton in the English Premier League. He is currently on loan back in his home country from parent club Aston Villa.
Anderlecht started the game aggressively as they looked to get back to winning ways after their last game, a scoreless draw again local rivals Union St Gilloise. After just four minutes, Belgian youngster Theo Leoni got the first shot of the game off but veteran keeper Sinan Bolat made easy work of it.
It was not the case minutes later when Luis Vazquez scored what was probably the easiest goal of his career. Anders Dreyers kicked the ball right into the body of the Argentinian front man, changing the trajectory of the flight and left Bolat flat footed, without time to react. One-nil to the hosts.
Three minutes later Westerlo won a free kick. Matija Frigan picked out Emin Bayram, but the Turkish U21 came close but could not beat Colin Coosemans between the sticks. Yow soon followed with a half-decent shot from the top of the box that the Belgian keeper got fingertips to and pushed it wide of the post.
Although Anderlecht dominated early on, Westerlo found their feet and completed well, matching their hosts in shots, 12 each overall with five on target.
Yow was at it again, wiggling his way into the box, past a defender but his cross was blocked by Jan-Carlo Simic. Tuur Rommens followed up with a blast from distance but Coosemans was ready for it.
While les Mauves tried patiently to find holes in the yellow and blue defense, Westerlo was more direct, which did create some good chances. Reynolds pounced on Ludwig Augustinsson, giving Yow a swing at the ball, though Coosemans didn’t have to intervene in the end. Both Americans were well into the game.
With about ten minutes left in the first half, Arthur Piedfort was brought down recklessly by Francis Amuzu. Yow was also on the ground and required treatment from the physio before he left the field of play as Westerlo took their free kick. And a great free kick it turned out to be, as Dogucan Haspolat shot from distance though the Anderlecht #1 was up to the task. He chose to knock the ball away and was unlucky that the quickest player to react was Byram, who headed it into the back of the net to level the score in the 38th minute.
Yow returned to the field of play and saw out the first half, but when the teams returned after the intermission the Westerlo #18 did not come out for the second half, being replaced by Allahray Sayyadmanesh.
Westerlo started the second half much better than they did the first, and six minutes in Reynolds could have collected an assist when he picked out the head of Rommens. However, the Belgian saw his pinpoint header pushed away by the Anderlecht #1.
When the clock struck one hour, the Gamecocks collected their reward, a goal that you could say fell out of the sky. Simic tried to clear his box but only managed to kick it straight up into the sky. As Coosemans came for it, he ran right into Bayram, allowing 17-year-old Luka Vuskovic to take full advantage and the Lotto Park crowd watched as the Tottenham Hotspur loanee headed it into the back of the net for his second goal of the young season.
RSCA had plenty of time to make things right but a lots of uncertain play, along with not the slickest of passing, compounded by superb KVC defending, kept the hosts at bay until their equalizer that came in the 84th minute.
Nilson Angulo and Leoni traded passes and opened up the defense, giving Mario Stroeykens a sweet pass that put the Belgian teen face to face with Bolat. This time the Turkish keeper could not make the save as Lotto Park burst into a celebratory frenzy. And that was how it ended.
After the game, and after he received treatment injury, Yow came and spoke to Yanks Abroad.
“I think we played quite well,” the young American said. “I think there were certain moments in the game where we could have been a little bit cleaner but you know, if difficult to play here; Anderlecht away. The way that we fought and the way that we were able to do more than just compete. I feel like we should have won but I’m really proud of everyone.”
Next up for the fifth place Westerlo will be a weekend visit from Royal Antwerp. Yow will most likely not be ready for this one.