Svenska Cupen winners Hacken had secured a 3-2 aggregate win over Spartak Trnava of Slovakia in the First Qualifying Round a week ago, but knew a sterner test would be in store against the record Belgian champions.
That was how the opening minutes were panning out - Mario Stroeykens and Nilson Angulo were proving dangerous for the hosts, before Kasper Dolberg blazed a great chance over the bar with 13 minutes on the clock.
With the early storm weathered, Hacken created chances of their own despite being dominated in the possession stats, and twice the Anderlecht defence had to come to their goalkeeper's rescue.
First, Simon Gustafson had a header from a corner cleared off the line, and a few minutes later, Severin Nioule's drive from the edge of the area was well blocked.
But no sooner had the Getingarna given themselves a foothold in the game, they found themselves behind. 10 minutes before the break, a loose ball fell to Dolberg on the edge of the box and he lashed his strike into the bottom corner, beyond the reach of Etrit Berisha.
After the break, Hacken's defence did well to nullify the Anderlecht threat going forward, and it wasn't until 10 minutes from time when Thorgan Hazard held off challenges to fire the Purple & White's first effort on goal of the second half, only for Berisha to palm it clear at full stretch.
Before that, Nioule, Marius Lode and Mikkel Rygaard all had opportunities for the visitors, but none of them forced Colin Coosemans into a save.
Anderlecht will take a 1-0 lead to Gothenburg for the second leg next Thursday, with a place in the Third Qualifying Round and a tie against either Red Bull Salzburg or Brann on the line.
