On a night of high drama in Brussels, Anderlecht’s 20-year-old Dutch goalkeeper Bart Verbruggen came of age to see his side through to the next round of the Conference League. The keeper saved all three of the Ludogorets penalties during the shoot-out to secure passage to the next round.
Anderlecht were 1-0 down going into the second leg, but after Islam Slimani forced Franco Russo into an own goal and Yari Verschaeren’s 68th minute strike proved to hot to handle for Sergio Padt, the Mauves looked to have turned things around. However, three minutes later the Bulgarian champions showed their quality on the counter when Thiago Rodrigues got his second of the tie to make it 1-1.
Neither side could break the deadlock during the rest of the 90 minute or extra-time. Ludogorets Pipa took the first penalty, but Verbruggen was equal to it. He then saved from Dominik Yankov and Pedrinho as none of the Bulgarian sides penalties found the net. Lior Refaelov and Jan Vertonghen made no mistake with their penalties. It fell to the aforementioned Verschaeren, who gave Padt no chance as he powered the ball into the top corner.
Verbruggen has been garnering interest from many sides, including Burnley. There has also been rumours that Liverpool are interested in the young keeper.
GBeNeFNÂ |Â Ben Jackson
