Anderlecht scalp revives Dinamo hopes

NK Dinamo Zagreb revived their UEFA Europa League campaign after Miroslav Slepička's goal earned a gritty 1-0 win at RSC Anderlecht.

Turning point
The Croatian side had been indebted to a string of saves from Tomislav Butina before Slepička struck in the 57th minute in Brussels. The goal completely changed the complexion of the game, though, and Dinamo held on comfortably to move within two points of their second-placed hosts in Group A.

Anderlecht ambition
A lively first half nearly commenced with a goal as Slepička drove narrowly wide after bursting out of midfield. The energetic visitors were making all the early moves, but the hosts soon imposed themselves and Guillaume Gillet stung Butina's palms following a mazy run from the right. Then Jelle Van Damme's header from the subsequent corner clipped the bar as Anderlecht upped the ante.

Butina heroics
In the 35th minute Romelu Lukaku exchanged passes with Mbark Boussoufa to open up the Dinamo defence, only for Butina to race from his line and block the 16-year-old striker's effort. Lukaku was denied again by the same man seven minutes after the restart, the former Club Brugge KV keeper saving a firm shot with his feet. However, it was the visitors who took the lead against the run of play when Ivan Tomečak's superb cross gave Slepička the simple task of heading in from close range.

Dinamo comfortable
The goal knocked the wind out of Anderlecht's sails and they struggled to respond initially. The hosts needed just a point to secure qualification, but it was Dinamo who looked the most likely to score the next goal and they duly saw out the closing stages to pick up only their third win in 15 UEFA club competition group-stage away games.