Belgium round-up: Brugge stay clear of pack

Club Brugge KV maintained their 14-point lead over K. Sint-Truidense VV at the top of the Belgian First Division thanks to a resounding 7-2 win at struggling KSK Beveren.

Brugge in control
Beveren were chasing the game from the start, having had several team members involved in a recent youth tournament, and Brugge took full advantage. The leaders, who have failed to win only two league games all season, took the lead in the 15th minute as Sandy Martens converted Andrés Mendoza’s cross, before Brugge doubled their lead in the 33rd minute, with Martens again heavily involved, as his header hit the crossbar and fell conveniently for Gert Verheyen to head the rebound into the net. 

Scoring spree
Martens then scored his second of the night five minutes before half-time, heading in from Nastja Ceh’s corner, before the Slovenian midfield player made it 4-0 on the stroke of half-time. Brugge continued in the same vein after the interval, with Verheyen getting his second before substitute Alin Stoica made it 6-0. Gilles Yapi Yapo restored some pride for Beveren, but Bengt Sæternes made it 7-1 before Venance Zézé scored a second consolation for Beveren in the final minute.

Sint-Truiden stay second
Second-placed Sint-Truiden continued to stay in touch with the leaders with a 3-1 away success at struggling KFC Lommelse SK thanks to two goals from Bram Vangeel and one from Claude Kalisa.
 
Away win for Anderlecht
RSC Anderlecht are level on points with Sint-Truiden in third spot following a 2-0 away win at bottom club KV Mechelen thanks to goals from Walter Baseggio and Ki Hyeun Seol. K. Lierse SK are in fourth place following a 3-0 win at RAA Louviéroise.

Sonck back with a goal
Champions Genk kept up their pursuit of the top clubs with a 2-0 home win over R. Antwerp FC, thanks to goals from Bernd Thijs and Wesley Sonck, who marked his return from injury with his side’s decisive second goal five minutes from time.

Aarst hat-trick
Ole Martin Ǻrst claimed a hat-trick as R. Standard de Liège brushed aside struggling R. Charleroi SC 3-0, while a goal from Sambegou Bangoura was enough for Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waaslan to win at KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen. Meanwhile, KAA Gent defeated R. Excelsior Mouscron 2-0 at home and KVC Westerlo won 2-0 against UEFA Cup hopefuls R. AEC Mons.