Belgium round-up: Anderlecht stopped at seven

Belgian first division leaders RSC Anderlecht dropped their first points of the season on Sunday, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by fellow UEFA Champions League contenders Club Brugge KV at the Constant Vanden Stock.

Lead cut
The slip meant Anderlecht's lead at the top has been cut to five points after ten-man KRC Genk's 3-1 win against KSC Lokeren OV moved them up to second in a weekend which produced just one away victory - R. Standard de Liège's 4-0 triumph at R. Antwerp FC.

Verlinden recall
Anderlecht had seemed set for an eighth straight victory when Aruna Dindane opened the scoring on 28 minutes but a string of wonderful saves by 40-year-old goalkeeper Dany Verlinden, recalled to the Bruges lineup, prevented the home side from increasing their lead. As the game edged towards full time, Anderlecht became more defensive and Bruges took the initiative, Andrés Mendoza finding an 82nd-minute equaliser.

Moons off
Despite having goalkeeper Jan Moons sent off for a tenth-minute handball offence outside his area, Genk eased to victory against Lokeren thanks to goals from Bernd Thijs, Theo Janssen and Cedric Roussel. The defeat left Lokeren still searching for their first win of the season.

Resounding win
Standard ended their run of three defeats with victory in Antwerp and duly climbed to sixth place in the table. Emile Mpenza latched on to a pass from Alexandros Kaklamanos to score a 15th-minute opener - his first goal for the club - before the Greek player doubled the lead with a header from Roberto Bisconti's cross. Substitute Aliyu Datti was responsible for the last two goals, scoring twice in as many minutes at the death.

Kenmogne leveller
New R. AEC Mons coach Sergio Brio saw his charges record a 1-1 draw away against RAA Louviéroise in the Hainaut derby. They had to come from behind after Frédéric Tilmant had put the home side ahead with a penalty two minutes after the break but Emmanuel Kenmogne scored a 76th-minute equaliser. Elsewhere, K. Heusden-Zolder are still searching for their first win of the campaign after losing 2-0 to KVC Westerlo.

Last-gasp penalty
Gilles Yapi Yapo converted a last-minute penalty to give KSK Beveren a 1-0 win against R. Charleroi SC at Freethiel. The match had seemed destined for a goalless draw, which was the outcome of three other games - Cercle Brugge KSV's home game against K. Lierse SK, K. Sint Truidense VV's fixture with KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen and R. Excelsior Mouscron's trip to KAA Gent all ended 0-0.