Anderlecht claimed a narrow 2:1 victory over Vasalund-Beveren in the opening round of the Jupiler Pro League Regular Season on Sunday. The match ended 2:1 after goals from C. Lokesa and M. Frey secured all three points for the hosts at home.
C. Lokesa opened the scoring in the twenty-ninth minute, though he also picked up a yellow card in the same period. Vasalund-Beveren equalised through M. Frey in the eighty-sixth minute, but the visitors could not find a late winner despite pushing for the result.
Several substitutions shaped the game's flow. V. Boone came on early for Vasalund-Beveren in the eleventh minute, while Anderlecht brought on S. Renders at half-time. The hosts added M. Fofana and K. Abrahams in the second half, with both C. Mejia and C. Lokesa making late appearances for Anderlecht.
Discipline issues surfaced throughout the contest. S. Dewaele and J. Margaritha received yellow cards for Vasalund-Beveren, while C. Bruls and A. Valencia were booked late in the game. Anderlecht's disciplinary record was cleaner with just two yellow cards compared to their opponents' four.
Statistics showed a closely contested match with both teams holding fifty percent possession. Anderlecht created three big chances against Vasalund-Beveren's one, and their shot accuracy of thirty-seven percent proved more efficient than the visitors' thirty-six percent.
The result leaves Anderlecht in tenth place with seven points from five games, two wins, one draw, and two defeats. Vasalund-Beveren sit twelfth with six points from five games, having won twice but suffered three losses without a draw to their name.