MECHELEN, Belgium (Interstat) — Anderlecht opened its Belgian First Division A season with a 2-1 comeback win over Mechelen on Saturday, April 18, 2026, at AFAS Stadion. The victory was fueled by impactful substitutes.

Mechelen’s Bouke Boersma scored just before halftime in first-half stoppage time. Anderlecht responded in the second half with two goals in a nine-minute span. Substitute Mihajlo Cvetković equalized in the 62nd minute, then assisted fellow substitute Adriano Bertaccini for the 71st-minute winner.

The match was a physical affair, featuring 11 yellow cards. The result aligned with a pregame projection that heavily favored Anderlecht. Anderlecht begins the league campaign with a win, while Mechelen starts with a loss.