Anderlecht through with ease
A fine individual strike by Matias Suarez and Tom de Sutter's shot earned Anderlecht a vital 2-0 victory which saw them progress from Group G of the Europa League.
De Sutter opened the scoring and Suarez netted before half-time on a pitch made difficult by a light covering of snow as Anderlecht edged above AEK Athens, beaten 3-0 at home by Zenit St Petersburg, and into the second qualifying spot behind the Russian side.
The home side opened the scoring 11 minutes into the game when De Sutter fired in off the post with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area after beating two defenders to the ball following a poor goal kick by Hadjuk goalkeeper Bozidar Radosevic.
Anderlecht could have extended their lead when Mbark Boussoufa got free down the right but De Sutter could only steer the ball wide when he stretched at the near post.
Jonathan Legear switched to the left side and cut inside before firing over a cross just in front of Suarez at the far post.
Boussoufa wasted an opening from close range when he mis-kicked before appealing in vain for a penalty when he went down under a challenge.
Suarez clipped the ball over the visitors' defence to Legear and Boussoufa but when the latter appeared to be barged over by Goran Jozinovic the referee ignored his appeals for a penalty.
De Sutter should have done better when played in by Legear but shot well wide of the target.
Legear set up another chance when he crossed to the back post but Suarez was denied by Jozinovic as he looked to volley.
De Sutter headed a corner from Boussoufa wide as Anderlecht continued to dominate.
Suarez netted the second when he cut in from the right and beat two defenders before hitting a shot with the outside of his right foot across goal and inside the far post after 40 minutes.
Legear was rightly ruled offside on the stroke of half-time before he netted from Suarez's pass.
It was 54 minutes before Hajduk had their first real effort at goal but Senijad Ibricic saw his free-kick deflected wide for a corner which came to nothing.
Boussoufa floated the ball into the area from a long free-kick but De Sutter headed over the bar.
With 25 minutes remaining substitute Marin Ljubicic shot well over from distance as Hajduk had a rare attack.
The game was held up with 18 minutes to go when the Croatian team's fans started throwing flares on the pitch but referee Stefan Johannesson allowed play to continue after a short stoppage.
Hajduk had their best chance with eight minutes to go but Ante Vukusic saw his low shot pushed out for a corner by Anderlecht goalkeeper Silvio Proto.
Anderlecht 2-0 Hajduk Split: Match Report - view commentary, squad, and statictics of the game as it happened.
Source: DSG
