Anderlecht v Standard LIVE

I will be back in about four-and-a-half hours to keep you up to date on this crucial away leg opener in the two-game cage match Jupiler League title bout between Oguchi Onyewu's Standard Liège and arch nemesis Anderlecht.

I will also come back in a shorter while to drop some preview info-tainment, but we are still watching for a few fitness tests and... ummm... I'm currently getting overly hungry.

Quick note: Though Marcus Tracy is still recovering from injury, his side are dueling FC Copenhagen on the Danish giant's home turf for the Ekstra Bladet Cup (and resulting Europa League berth). Near the hour, they trail 1-0, but I'll keep one eye on it. Should AaB lose this final, the cup invite would go to Danny Califf's FC Midtjylland instead.

UPDATE: The cup final ends 1-0 to FC Copenhagen.

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Okay, I'm back with little bit of preview info.

Anderlecht's English site gives us a nice overview of probable line-ups, absences and recent meetings (though they deftly avoid mentioning Standard's 3-1 Belgian Super Cup victory from this preseason, in which our man Gooch scored twice). Obviously, the biggest name missing tonight will be attacker Milan Jovanovic, who is serving out a suspension, but will be back for the return. Meanwhile, UEFA.com sets us up with a few words from the opposing coaches.

As for free-agent-to-be Onyewu, there will be club reps (including a few managers) from at least nine countries in the building to watch him - yes, I am holding a few bits of info close to vest for the time being and I am sorry for not spillin' yet. Combing transfer targets on both sides, there will probably be at least a few dozen scouts in attendance overall, so don't be shocked if new suitors suddenly get involved in an already crowded chase field.

You can also kill some time checking out my Americans Abroad Team of the Season (of which Gooch is a member) over at S365. Or you could, ya know... work and stuff.

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We're about 30 minutes away, here are your starting line-ups (the asterisks denote the guys drawing most of the scouts, including several from some of Europe's biggest clubs)...

Sinan Bolat; Marcos Camozzato, Oguchi Onyewu*, Landry Mulemo*, Tomislav Mikulic, Mehdi Carcela-Gonzalez, Wilfried Dalmat, Steven Defour*, Axel Witsel*, Igor De Camargo, Dieumerci Mbokani*

Davy Schollen; Marcin Wasilewski, Olivier Deschacht, Roland Juhasz*, Jelle Van Damme*, Lucas Biglia*, Thomas Chatelle, Jan Polak*, Guillaume Gillet, Mbark Boussoufa*, Tom De Sutter

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Our match is just about to begin, but let me quickly drop the note that Nybergsund ace Joe Lapira scored again today, his third goal in four games. The former Notre Dame ace bagged an 84th minute equalizer, only to have visiting Alta come right back and score the 2-1 winner.

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FIRST HALF

1'

Game on.

3'

A scramble in front of Anderlecht's goal ends with Witsel hitting the post with a yawning net at his disposal.

7'

Biglia fires a shot wide from long range.

11'

Boussoufa is very, very slow to get up after a collision with Marcos, and hobbles to the sideline.

13'

Polak tries his luck from distance, but rockets his shot high.

15'

Mbokani wins a restart on the left and Gooch moves into the box, but Defour's serve is very poor.

18'

De Camargo makes a beautiful turn outside the area and fires a lefty laser off the woodwork, very close to where Witsel hit it. Scant moments later, De Camargo nods a free kick from the right flank wide of the target.

22'

Mbokani's clever slip pass is just a touch too strong for the onrushing De Camargo, and the keeper smothers. Anderlecht suddenly look shaky at the back, with at least five turnovers in their own end over the last few moments.

29'

Play has entered a chippy phase, and Mikulic is first into the book for a kick on Boussoufa at midfield.

37'

De Sutter is stopped, then Van Damme tries to win a PK against a sliding Onyewu as he collects the carom, but the ref sees his massive flop-and-a-half. The zebra got this one 100% correct.

43'

Biglia's shot from 22 is deflected on its way in, but the keeper makes a comfy save.

45'

Gooch dumps De Sutter about 30 out. The danger FK is from straightaway, but is blocked away by an unpunished De Camargo handball. On the ensuing counter, the striker takes a stiff arm from the last defender - no call here either, and each would have been harsh.

HALFTIME

Standard have done well to change gears, at times working the counter and at times pushing forward. De Camargo and Mbokani have been a handful, both in the air and through the wide channels - this is where they miss Jovanovic cruising up the gut from behind the play. The visitors have also done well to limit Boussoufa's time and visibility on the ball by getting in his face as quickly as possible.

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SECOND HALF

46'

Standard kick off...

47'

Defour lines up a free kick from 25, a bit left of center - my absolute favorite favorite favorite FK spot. Sadly, he curls over (whereas I clearly would have at least hit the post).

52'

1-0 Anderlecht. With the Mauves attack consuming the left side, no one picks up right winger Legear (who replaced a nicked Gillet on 38') and he nods home the far post cross.

56'

Clearly feelin' it, Legear (another very hot transfer topic) forces a good save from a 25-meter free kick.

58'

Anderlecht seem to be smelling blood as Boussoufa screams a shot just high from 22.

61'

Standard are level, 1-1! Carcela-Gonzalez curls a beautiful deep cross from the left and Mbokani drills it home with a high rise header!

64'

Onyewu nods away a tricky Wasilewski cross in a crowd.

69'

Marcos sees yellow for a clumsy challenge on Boussoufa.

74'

Reigning PotW Bolat fumbles a long Mauves boot and Onyewu is called into duty to nod away Wasilewski's goalbound try from the right flank.

80'

Anderlecht get nothing from consecutive corners. During the second, Wasilewski takes a swing at Onyewu's face, and the American responds with a pop shot of his own. Both get a lecture, but no more.

83'

De Camargo goes into the book for a flash array of fouls - hard to tell which one drew the card.

85'

Wasilewski, who is fortunate to still be in this match, takes a chunk out of Witsel on a jump. again, no card. Hmmm.

87'

Standard are down to 10 men. Mikulic makes another silly, reckless challenge out near the midfield stripe and is shown the gate.

89'

Sarr replaces Dalmat to re-fill out the Standard backline. Anderlecht then fail to connect on a corner kick.

90+4'

Standard have a late CK, but it is cleared away easily.

90+5'

A bit of a nervous moment at the Standard end as a long serve causes a scramble, but Onyewu finally muscles the pinball away.

FULL TIME

A fine result, to be sure, but the visitors could have had more. The good news is they go home, where a win clinches the repeat. I will double-check on the away goals question, but I think it is not in effect here. Enjoy your evening, folks.




UPDATE: I have made the appropriate phone call, and as it turns out, I remembered wrong about the away goals rule in this tie - it is in effect.

Fair warning: if you make a crack that this slip proves I'm getting old, The Distracter will kick you. She doesn't tackle nice.


- Greg Seltzer