Anderlecht Boost Title Hopes with Victory at Lokeren
Anderlecht secured a vital 2-1 away win over Lokeren on Friday in the opening match of the third day of the Belgian Pro League play-offs, thanks to goals from Gohi Bi Cyriac and Aleksandar Mitrovic.
Cyriac opened the scoring in the 6th minute, giving the visitors an early advantage. Lokeren fought back, but it was Mitrovic who doubled Anderlecht’s lead in the 66th minute, ultimately sealing the three points despite a late push from the hosts.
The victory moves Anderlecht level with Club Brugge on 35 points, just two behind league leaders Standard Liège, reigniting their title challenge as the play-off stage gains momentum.
Speaking after the match, Anderlecht midfielder Cheikhou Kouyaté expressed his satisfaction with the team’s attacking performance and emphasised the importance of maintaining momentum.
“We play every match with the desire to win; there’s no more time for calculations,” Kouyaté told RTBF. “With Mitro and Cyriac up front, it’s easier to create chances and score. They proved it again this Friday.”
The Senegal international praised the impact of the strike duo and highlighted the need to carry the team’s newfound rhythm into their next fixture.
“We’ll now try to prepare well for Tuesday’s match against Zulte Waregem. It won’t be easy, but we have to take all three points at home. I hope this six out of six will be a turning point for us—we’ve been waiting for it for so long.”
Anderlecht’s win marks their second consecutive success in the championship play-offs, a crucial run of form in a tightly contested title race. With fixtures coming thick and fast, consistency will be key if the Brussels side are to close the gap on Standard and retain hopes of reclaiming the Belgian crown.
