Anderlecht has taken a small but important step forward in their Europa League journey, securing a 1-0 victory over Hacken in the first leg of their qualifying match. Kasper Dolberg’s first-half goal was the only thing separating the two teams in a closely fought contest in Brussels.
The match was a story of two different halves. Anderlecht started strongly and controlled possession, eventually finding the breakthrough before halftime. However, Hacken adjusted well in the second half, showing strong defensive discipline to prevent Anderlecht from extending their lead, though they struggled to create clear chances to equalize. The 1-0 result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the second leg.
⚽ A Decisive First Half
Anderlecht came out with energy, creating several early chances. Mario Stroeykens and Nilson Angulo looked dangerous, while Kasper Dolberg missed a clear opportunity early on. Hacken weathered the initial pressure and began to create threats of their own, with a header from Simon Gustafson cleared off the goal line. Just as Hacken seemed to be settling into the game, Dolberg found the back of the net 10 minutes before the break with a well-placed shot from the edge of the penalty area, giving Anderlecht a crucial lead.
🛡️ Hacken’s Resilient Defense
After halftime, Hacken tightened up their defense and successfully kept Anderlecht’s attackers quiet for most of the period. The home side struggled to find a way through Hacken’s organized backline. Anderlecht’s best chance of the second half came late in the game when Thorgan Hazard’s powerful shot was impressively saved by goalkeeper Etrit Berisha.
🗓️ All to Play For in the Second Leg
While Hacken managed to create a few opportunities in the second half through players like Severin Nioule and Mikkel Rygaard, they were unable to test Anderlecht’s goalkeeper, Colin Coosemans. With this 1-0 result, Anderlecht will travel to Gothenburg for the second leg next Thursday with a narrow advantage. The winner of this tie will advance to the Third Qualifying Round to face either Red Bull Salzburg or Brann.
