Belgium round-up: Brugge power on

Club Brugge KV maintained their unstoppable form at the top of the Belgian first division on Wednesday night with a 2-0 home win over K.Sint Truidense VV.

In great form
Trond Sollied's side created a wealth of goalscoring chances throughout the match but again had to rely on striker Rune Lange, who struck his 13th and 14th goals of the season after 35 and 83 minutes.

Two dismissed
The win is Brugge's eleventh in 13 matches and they remain three points ahead of KRC Genk, who also won 2-0 at home against nine-man KVC Westerlo. Genk's Belgium striker Wesley Sonck powered forward but his run was brought to an abrupt end by defender Sidney Lammens.

Ultimate punishment
Lammens was shown the red card for his tackle and subsequent argument with the referee, while his team-mate Frank Dauwen was dismissed for pushing the official. Bernd Thijs converted the resulting free-kick to put the hosts ahead before Sonck got on the scoresheet in the last minute with a superbly curled shot after another powerful run.

Home mauling
The surprise result of the night, though, was undoubtedly at the Jules Ottenstadion where KAA Gent were beaten 5-2 in front of their own fans by R. Standard de Liège. Despite taking the lead after just five minutes through a Nenad Vanic penalty, the home side were 4-1 down by half-time with the match over as a contest.

Hat-trick hero
Harold Meyssen levelled the scores in the 13th minute, curling in a free-kick from the edge of the box into the far corner. Ole Martin Åarst then grabbed the first of his three goals on the night from the penalty spot after 22 minutes to put the visitors ahead.

Seeing red
Åarst netted again just two minutes later before Vanic was sent off in the 31st minute after receiving his second yellow card for a deliberate handball in the box. Maboula Ali Lukunku slotted home from the spot to make it 4-1. Nasredine Kraouche gave the ten men hope when he pulled a goal back five minutes after half-time, but Åarst completed his hat-trick four minutes from time to net the visitor’s fifth.

Ninth loss
At the other end of the table KSK Beveren stay rooted to the bottom after going down 3-2 to fellow strugglers RAA Louviéroise - their ninth defeat of the campaign. Champions RSC Anderlecht continue to struggle after playing out a goalless draw at home to Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waaslan.

And elsewhere
In other matches, KFC Lommelse SK beat R. Charleroi SC 5-1, KSC Eendracht Aalst went down 4-2 at home to RWD Molenbeek while K. Lierse SK and R. Excelsior Mouscron drew 3-3.