Nilson Angulo nets 71st-minute winner for Anderlecht as Anthony Valencia scores off the bench in Belgium

Ecuador’s new-wave attackers delivered in Belgium. Nilson Angulo came off the bench and struck in the 71st minute to secure Anderlecht a 2-1 victory over Sint-Truiden, pushing his seasonal tally to five. On the same matchday, Anthony Valencia, 22, made a lively cameo after entering on 63 minutes and found the net roughly 20 minutes later, underlining his technical class after a stretch disrupted by injuries. Two snapshots, one message: form and confidence are trending up. For Ecuador’s national pool, that matters. For their clubs, it is decisive in a tight Pro League race.

The Belgian Pro League weekend featured a tight Anderlecht 2-1 win against Sint-Truiden, decided by a 71st-minute strike from Ecuadorian winger Nilson Angulo. In parallel action, fellow Ecuadorian Anthony Valencia entered at 63 minutes for Royal Antwerp and scored inside the next 20 minutes, a timely reminder of his talent following previous injury setbacks. These moments arrived during a congested run of fixtures where rotation and impact substitutions are central to results, especially for clubs pursuing points at the top end of the table.

🚨 Ingresó al minuto 63' y le bastaron solo 20 mint para anotar un gol. Anthony Valencia (22), siempre estuvo en mis libros de jugadores con gran talento, lamentablemente, las lesiones no lo han respetado, pero es un chico técnicamente superdotado. Anthony Valencia 🌟

@twotrepi

Impact Analysis

Angulo’s late winner is bigger than a single result. For Anderlecht, it validates a rotation strategy that leans on pace and direct threat in the final half hour. Angulo’s profile suits that mandate: he attacks space, presses without the ball, and commits defenders 1v1. Hitting five goals at this stage of the season strengthens his case for more starts and raises his value internally. In a competitive Pro League where fine margins separate European spots and the title race, a reliable impact wing option can be worth several points across a campaign.

Anthony Valencia’s strike, after coming on at 63 minutes, lands as a personal reset. Antwerp have asked for verticality and cleaner touches in the half-spaces from their wide players. Valencia supplied exactly that, the kind of intervention that can shift him from rotational minutes to a stable role if he stacks performances. His injury history made continuity elusive, but timing matters. With Antwerp juggling domestic targets, a healthy, confident Valencia widens tactical choices and reduces the load on starters.

From the Ecuador national team lens, both are tracking upward. Depth on the wings is a recurring theme, and form in Europe typically translates to increased trust in international windows. The immediate effect is psychological and structural: opponents now must respect late-game Ecuadorian pace from the bench, which subtly alters how Belgian defenses manage transitions in the final quarter of matches.

Reaction

Fan chatter lit up fast. Anderlecht supporters celebrated Angulo’s killer instinct at 71 minutes, praising the timing of his runs and the composure on the finish. The tone was proud and impatient at once: if he decides tight games, why not start more often. Ecuadorian followers echoed that energy, calling the goal a proof point that his ceiling remains untapped and that five goals this season is a fair reflection of improved decision making in the final third.

On Antwerp’s side, the response to Anthony Valencia mixed optimism with caution. Many applauded the technique and confidence to score within 20 minutes of coming on, noting that he has always had the tools but needed rhythm. A strand of commentary pushed a different idea: a short spell back home to fully reset and rack up minutes, a nod to the belief that consistent playing time is the fastest route to peak form. Others pushed back, arguing this was exactly the cameo that earns trust in Belgium and that leaving now would cut against momentum.

Across neutral timelines, the common thread was Ecuador’s productive weekend in Europe. The narrative of “impact subs changing games” resonated, and the sentiment was that both players forced their coaches to rethink rotation for the next run of fixtures.

Social reactions

Este panita lleva años en Europa siendo siempre suplente 😞

Peter G. Luna (@Peter_JGL)

Que se venga a Liga un añito a recuperarse bien

Patpato (@patricioloco)

La gala del Premio The Best será el próximo martes 16 de diciembre en Doha, Catar. Recordemos que Willian Pacho y Moisés Caicedo están nominados al XI Ideal Masculino FIFPRO 2025.

MrOFF (@MrOFFSIDER)

Prediction

Short term, expect Anderlecht to increase Angulo’s minutes in matches that tilt toward transitions. He is trending toward a hybrid role: start against deeper blocks that need 1v1 unlocks, close out against open games where his speed tilts the field. If he maintains his chance conversion, double digits in all competitions is reachable before the season closes.

For Anthony Valencia, Antwerp’s staff will likely set a two-step challenge: string together healthy weeks, then stack outputs. A logical pathway is expanded substitute windows, then targeted starts. If he sustains end-product in 20-30 minute bursts, a regular XI spot becomes realistic. A loan back to South America feels unlikely in the immediate window if he keeps scoring off the bench, as Antwerp benefit more by holding and developing him in-house.

National team implications are straightforward. Maintain form, and March call-ups write themselves. The broader scenario sees Ecuador’s European-based wingers building a case for a more aggressive wide setup in upcoming qualifiers, with Angulo’s pressing and Valencia’s half-space threat offering complementary profiles.

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Conclusion

Ecuadorian fingerprints were all over a decisive weekend in Belgium. Nilson Angulo didn’t just score a late winner for Anderlecht, he underscored why his profile is essential in a league decided by moments. Five goals feel like a floor if he keeps arriving in the box with the same calm. Anthony Valencia’s response from the bench was equally telling. It read like a declaration that the injury chapter is closing and the production chapter is opening.

Clubs remember who wins tight matches. Coaches trust players who bring clean actions under pressure. This round delivered both proofs at once. The next test is repetition, and that is the part that turns promising nights into full seasons. For now, the takeaway is simple: Ecuador’s young wide men shifted points in Europe, and they changed their own trajectories while doing it.