Anderlecht heap more misery on ten-man Ekranas

Helped by the first-half dismissal of FK Ekranas goalkeeper Emilijus Zubas, RSC Anderlecht progressed serenely into the UEFA Champions League play-offs following another emphatic victory against their Lithuanian opponents.

Leading 5-0 from the first leg, Anderlecht had extended their advantage through Sacha Kljestan by the time Zubas was sent off with 25 minutes gone. A man to the good and six goals ahead on aggregate, John van den Brom's side did anything but let up, scoring a further five times through Dennis Praet, Olexandr Yakovenko, Tom De Sutter and substitutes Guillermo Molins and Fernando.

As in the first leg, Anderlecht made an early breakthrough, Kljestan the beneficiary after Zubas failed to deal with a cross. The goalkeeper's night went from bad to worse when he saw red for a foul on De Sutter inside the penalty area. Substitute Tadas Kauneckas gave the home fans something to cheer, though, by saving Guillaume Gillet's weak spot kick.

The joy of that save soon turned to disappointment as Praet found the net with a precise strike from the edge of the area two minutes later. Deep into added time at the end of the first half Kauneckas misjudged a cross and Yakovenko was there for an easy tap-in.

Two minutes after the break Yakovenko set up De Sutter for Les Mauves et Blancs' fourth of the night, and then turned provided for Molins just after the hour. Three minutes from time Fernando rounded off the scoring with Anderlecht's 11th goal of the tie. Heavily beaten, Ekranas can at least console themselves with the knowledge that they will feature in Friday's UEFA Europa League play-off draw.