Senegalese defender Moussa Ndiaye key as Anderlecht defeat Gent to climb second

Anderlecht secured a 1-0 win over Gent on Tuesday in a rescheduled Jupiler Pro League clash, with Mario Stroeykens’ second-half strike proving decisive and Moussa Ndiaye delivering a standout defensive performance.

The fixture, originally postponed from August to accommodate Anderlecht’s European commitments, saw Besnik Hasi’s men move up to second in the table with 14 points, six behind leaders Union Saint-Gilloise.

The first half offered little to separate the two teams, with Anderlecht registering three shots on target to Gent’s single effort, but neither side able to break the deadlock.

The breakthrough arrived in the 68th minute when Stroeykens finished off a neat move, his shot deflecting off Siebe Van Der Heyden to beat the Gent goalkeeper.

Gent pressed for an equaliser late on but were frustrated by Anderlecht’s defensive resilience.

Ndiaye, operating on the left of the back three, impressed with his composure and work rate, helping the Mauves hold firm under pressure.

The result ended Anderlecht’s brief winless spell and reaffirmed their position among the league’s frontrunners, with Stroeykens and Ndiaye central to a victory that steadied momentum heading into the weeks ahead.