BRUSSELS (Interstat) — In a match that saw a flurry of late goals and discipline, RSC Anderlecht opened its Belgian First Division A campaign with a 2-1 victory over Sint-Truiden on Saturday at Lotto Park.

The result, which aligned with a pregame projection from Interstat, lifted Anderlecht to a season record of one win and no losses in league play. Sint-Truiden begins its season with no wins and one loss.

The first half was a cagey, physical affair that produced no goals but plenty of cautions. Referee Lawrence Visser was busy, booking Sint-Truiden’s Rihito Yamamoto in the 17th minute and Anderlecht’s Nathan De Cat in the 35th. The tone was set for a match that would see nine yellow cards issued in total.

Anderlecht, heavily favored with an 88.80 percent win probability according to Interstat’s ELO system, controlled possession but struggled to break down a resolute Sint-Truiden defense for much of the contest. The breakthrough finally came from an influential source in the 68th minute. Midfielder Nathan Saliba, who would finish as the game’s standout performer, found the net to give the hosts a 1-0 lead.

The match then erupted in a stunning sequence. Just three minutes after Saliba’s opener, Sint-Truiden responded immediately. Midfielder Nilson Angulo scored in the 71st minute to silence the home crowd and pull the visitors level at 1-1.

Parity was short-lived, however. Anderlecht reclaimed the lead almost instantly, with substitute Keisuke Gotō scoring in the 72nd minute to make it 2-1. The rapid three-goal span between the 68th and 72nd minutes decided the contest.

Saliba was credited with the primary assist on Gotō’s decisive goal, giving him a goal and an assist for the match. Gotō matched that stat line with his late winner and an assist of his own. The assists on Anderlecht’s goals were recorded by Killian Sardella and Adriano Bertaccini.

For Sint-Truiden, Angulo’s equalizer was assisted by Visar Musliu. The visitors’ fightback was ultimately undone by Anderlecht’s swift response.

The frantic scoring was followed by a tense final period, with Sint-Truiden pushing for another equalizer and Anderlecht looking to secure the result. The physicality continued, leading to late cautions for Sint-Truiden’s Shōgo Taniguchi and Anderlecht’s Andrés Ferrari.

Anderlecht’s depth proved significant, with substitutes Gotō, Musliu, Ferrari, Yamamoto and Taniguchi all entering the match and being involved in key moments, both positive and disciplinary.

The final score of 2-1 matched the exact projection of Interstat’s game simulator. Anderlecht will look to build on the opening victory, while Sint-Truiden seeks its first points of the season in its next outing.