AMSTERDAM – Man of the Match Sacha Kljestan bagged both the opener and the winner as Anderlecht completed a Cofidis Cup sweep of guests Zulte-Waregem to reach the final four with a 4-2 (7-2 aggregate) victory on Wednesday night.
The US midfielder nearly helped get the party started on seven minutes, only to watch youngster Andy Kawaya miss the target from his freeing through pass. Kljestan would do the ice-breaking honors himself 15 minutes later, nodding home Oliver Deschacht's flick-on from a corner kick.
Four minutes before the break, Kljestan notched an easy assist by laying off an area pass for Gohi Bi Zoro Cyriac to pick the top corner from just above the box.
He would then quickly make it three for the hosts in a similar manner to his first strike of the night. This time, the No. 19 shirt kissed a redirection of Michaël Heylen corner kick header just before the break for his fourth goal of the campaign across all competitions. It was Kljestan's first ever brace for Anderlecht and his first in club life since netting both goals in a Chivas USA win over Toronto FC in August of 2009.
It also helped set up the Mauves, who have not won the Belgian Cup in seven years, for a February 4 date to begin a two-leg semifinal series at Gent.
Meanwhile, in English Championship play, Eric Lichaj was visibly unhappy after being yanked 32 minutes into Nottingham Forest's 3-2 loss at Fulham.
The left back departed with his team down two and they conceded a third distance strike by Fulham forward Ross McCormack shortly thereafter. Under-fire boss Stuart Pearce has managed 12th place Forest to but one win in the last nine league games, and they are also now winless in four at home.
Greg Seltzer covers Americans based in Europe for MLSsoccer.com.
