Anderlecht lifted by Frutos double

Nicolás Frutos struck a goal in each half to secure victory for RSC Anderlecht in their UEFA Cup Group B opener against Hapoel Tel-Aviv FC on Thursday. The Argentinian frontman slotted in the opener nine minutes before half-time and then headed a second on 70 minutes to ensure the points remained in Brussels.

Hassan denied
Anderlecht started well, with Ahmed Hassan producing a right-footed shot in the 16th minute which was comfortably dealt with by Vincent Enyeama in the Hapoel Tel-Aviv goal. Bebars Natcho and Lior Asulin tried their luck from distance for the visitors but their efforts were high and wide, respectively, before Frutos showed them how it should be done at the other end.

Deserved lead
Frutos fired a right-footed shot into the bottom corner from the centre of the box to give the hosts a deserved lead in the 36th minute. Jan Polák and Hassan looked to double Anderlecht's advantage but the former blasted wide and the latter saw his effort caught by Enyeama.

Enyeama alert
It was much the same story after the interval with the Belgian champions in control. Hassan's cross on the hour found Jonathan Legear, whose header missed its target. Egyptian midfielder Hassan then drilled in a right-footed shot from just outside the area but was denied by Hapoel’s alert Nigerian goalkeeper.

Frutos double
Legear aimed to lay on a second for Frutos in the 64th minute but his header flew over. Yet the home crowd did not have to wait too much longer for the cushion of a second goal, with Frutos again on target. Compatriot Lucas Biglia provided the cross from the left channel and the South American headed into the top-right corner. Polak had one more sight of goal in the 85th minute but skied his long-range effort over the bar.