Gillet a cut above as Anderlecht beat AEK
Thursday, December 1, 2011
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AEK Athens FC 1-2 RSC Anderlecht
Ariël Jacobs's team boast the only 100% record in this season's group stage after completing a fifth Group L victory in Greece.
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RSC Anderlecht are the only team in this season's UEFA Europa League group stage to boast a 100% record after completing a fifth Group L win at AEK Athens FC.
Guillaume Gillet's first-half goals, either side of Dimitris Sialmas's equaliser, earned the already-qualified visitors a narrow victory – and left Nikos Kostenoglou's team still seeking a first point.
Les Mauves took the lead with their first attack, a swift move down the left flank involving Behrang Safari and Kanu catching the home defence square. The Brazilian delivered a low cross that eluded all but Gillet, who scored with ease at the far post. Ariël Jacobs' side might then have doubled their lead but for a fine save by Dimitris Konstantopoulos from Marcin Wasilewski's header.
Though they had threatened little, AEK drew level on 19 minutes when Nathan Burns burst down the right. He crossed for Sialmas, who controlled the deflected ball and dispatched a low shot on the turn past Silvio Proto.
Anderlecht's Milan Jovanović and Matías Suárez were denied by Konstantopoulos following fine pieces of individual skill, but Gillet restored the visitors' lead on 36 minutes, rising above two defenders to head in Roland Juhász's left-wing cross.
AEK raised their game after the break, lively substitute Leonardo sending a low free-kick at Proto before Sialmas broke through on goal only to poke his shot just wide, and Leonardo was twice more thwarted by the visiting goalkeeper.
The last word almost went to Tom De Sutter, whose audacious back-heel from Dieudonné Mbokani's centre came back off the post. Ultimately Anderlecht achieved their goal of staying three points clear of FC Lokomotiv Moskva, who must beat them by more than two goals in Brussels on 14 December to steal top spot.