Anderlecht's hopes of climbing the Belgian Pro League standings were dashed as they fell 2-0 to Westerlo on March 9, 2025. The defeat was particularly damaging for Anderlecht, who have struggled to find consistency, and it left them unable to mathematically reach the third position currently held by Union Saint-Gilloise. The loss also marks yet another setback for the team, as this was their second defeat against Westerlo within just two weeks, following a previous loss on February 23, 2025.
The match took place at Het Kuipje Stadium, where the home team, Westerlo, entered as underdogs sitting 13th on the league table with 31 points. From the kick-off, it was clear they were determined to push forward. They struck first mere seconds after the match began, with Matija Frigan scoring the opening goal just two minutes in. The goal came from a corner kick, where Frigan managed to head the ball past Anderlecht's goalkeeper Colin Coosemans, leaving the visitors caught off guard.
Westerlo continued their offensive momentum and scored again at the 22nd minute. This time, Dogucan Haspolat unleashed a powerful shot from outside the box, capitalizing on Coosemans being slightly out of position and doubling the lead. At this point, the odds were increasingly stacked against Anderlecht, which still struggled to find their rhythm.
Despite pressing for much of the first half, the visitors were thwarted repeatedly by the solid defensive efforts of Westerlo, along with stellar saves by their goalkeeper Andreas Jungdal. For Anderlecht, César «Chino» Huerta, who had started the match as a right winger instead of his usual left, found it difficult to influence the game significantly. His attempts to create offensive plays were limited, culminating with him being substituted out for Keisuke Goto at the 75th minute, with Huerta's performance drawing scrutiny from fans as it appeared he struggled to adapt to the change in positioning.
Following the halftime interval, Westerlo opted to retreat and defend their two-goal lead effectively. Even with substitutions and tactical adjustments from Anderlecht, they failed to penetrate the organized defense of Westerlo, who allowed the time to tick away with minimal interruptions.
The game concluded with Westerlo solidifying their recent rise up the ranks, jumping to 10th place with 34 points from this victory, whereas Anderlecht maintained their status at fourth with no change to their points total of 48, trailing far behind league leaders Genk. Fans and pundits alike expressed their disappointment at Anderlecht's lackluster showing, particularly as the team was once viewed as strong contenders for the league title.
Looking forward, Anderlecht's next match is set for March 16, 2025, against Cercle Brugge, where they will need to make significant improvements if they hope to regain momentum. This encounter carries added intrigue as it will feature another Mexican player, Heriberto Jurado, competing for Cercle Brugge. The season’s most pressing fixture is on May 4, 2025, when Anderlecht will face Club Brugge for the Belgian Cup—a match they must prepare for thoroughly to salvage some pride this season.
This defeat against Westerlo not only highlights the pressing issues within Anderlecht's squad, such as their disconnect on the pitch and performance inconsistencies, but also raises questions about their strategy moving forward. If they want to stay competitive and fulfill their aspirations, the players and coaching staff will need to recalibrate quickly and deliver stronger performances as they head toward the final stretch of the season.