Anderlecht stagger and Gent out as season finale nears

Anderlecht are the last Belgian side standing in European football, but only by a thread after losing 3-1 at Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in last night’s Europa League final 16 tie.

Besnik Hasi’s Anderlecht were on the back foot at the Lviv Arena, but Frank Acheampong’s 68th-minute goal offered them a glimmer of hope that they can overturn the deficit at Astrid Park next week and reach the quarter-finals.

The defeat came two days after Gent were knocked out of the Champions League by Wolfsburg, after Andre Schurrle’s only goal sealed a 4-2 aggregate win for the German side. Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck earlier said the Buffaloes would need a “miracle” to beat the Wolves, but they failed to make any clear chances.

Gent, in their first ever Champions League campaign, beat Valencia, Lyon and Zenit St Petersburg to qualify from the group stage, but they never threatened a repeat against Wolfsburg.

Meanwhile, the Belgian Pro League is gearing up for the final day of the regular season on Sunday, with Club Brugge sitting on top of the table, followed by Gent, Anderlecht, Ostend and Genk. Standard Liège, Zulte Waregem and Kortrijk are all vying for the final place in the 10-game play-offs that run from 1 April 1 to 29 May.

Photo: Anderlecht’s Frank Acheampong (left) in action during yesterday’s Europa League leg against Ukraine. ©Gleb Garanich/REUTERS