Anderlecht hit five to move in on play-offs

Dieudonné Mbokani was on target in each half as RSC Anderlecht all but secured themselves a UEFA Champions League play-off berth with a five-goal display against FK Ekranas in the first instalment of their third qualifying round tie.

Mbokani rounded off the scoring in a first half in which Tom De Sutter and Kanu had put the Belgian side two to the good by the midway point. Mbokani struck again early in the second period, with Milan Jovanović strengthening an already commanding position for Les Mauves et Blancs three minutes from time.

De Sutter set Anderlecht, who were playing with full-backs Olivier Deschacht and Marcin Wasilewski in the centre of defence, on their way when he headed in Behrang Safari's left-wing cross. Proceedings might have unfolded differently had Egidijus Varnas' shot found the net for the visitors rather than missing the upright – it was a moment from which Anderlecht never looked back.

Kanu made it two with a neat volley after Mbokani's shot was blocked. Mbokani would not be denied for long, though, putting John van den Brom's team in total control four minutes before half-time after intercepting a pass and beating Emilijus Zubas.

Zubas momentarily stopped the flow of goals by keeping out another De Sutter header, but he was powerless to prevent Mbokani from claiming his second from a Milan Jovanović assist. Provider turned scorer late on, turning the ball in following by Denis Odoi's delivery from the right.