Anderlecht vs Athletic Bilbao
Anderlecht
Athletic Bilbao
vs
Thursday 25th February 2010
Venue: Constant Vanden Stock Stadium
Kick-off: 18:00
Score: 4 - 0
Boussoufa inspires Anderlecht to victory
Mbark Boussoufa enjoyed a starring role as Anderlecht breezed into the Europa League last 16 with a comfortable 4-0 win over Athletic Bilbao, securing a 5-1 triumph on aggregate.
La Liga outfit Athletic were left kicking themselves after only drawing 1-1 in the first leg at home and they were made to pay as the Belgians moved through to face Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the next round.
Goals by Romelu Lukaku, a Mikel San Jose own goal, Boussoufa and Jonathan Legear sealed their passage in impressive style as Joaquin Caparros' side limped out of the competition.
Less than two minutes in, San Jose was booked for a foul on Lukaku and moments later the Anderlecht man scored the opening goal.
After Boussoufa fed the ball in from the right, Lukaku seized on the opportunity and sent his left-footed shot from close range past Gorka Iraizoz.
Athletic's response was slow in coming but in the ninth minute Fran Yeste fired in a left-footed shot which went wide of the near post.
An incredibly scrappy opening was punctuated by a Boussoufa shot in the 23rd minute which Iraizoz saved comfortably.
The hosts' purple patch continued when Boussoufa's corner resulted in Cheikhou Kouyate having a shot which flew wide.
Two minutes later it was 2-0. Legear crossed the ball in and while no Anderlecht striker was on the end of it, San Jose managed to nod the ball into his own net.
After the remainder of the half petered out, the Belgians sealed their progression as the impressive Boussoufa headed home from six yards to make it 4-1 on aggregate.
The same man was involved again on the hour mark as he drilled a right-footed shot from close range only to see Iraizoz somehow tip it round the post.
The Basques' only response was a series of silly fouls before, in the 68th minute, Legear made it 4-0 on the night with a right-footed drive from the edge of the box.
Boussoufa unsuccessfully attempted a couple of efforts which both went off target while at the other end, Fernando Llorente headed over from close range.
Lucas Biglia smashed a long-range effort over the bar with five minutes to go and Jelle van Damme forced a save from Iraizoz as the hosts finished strongly with their visitors all but surrendering.
