Balaban to the fore for Brugge

By Berend Scholten

Boško Balaban scored four goals as Club Brugge KV stretched their lead at the top to four points after RSC Anderlecht lost to R. Charleroi SC.

Emphatic win
The Croatian striker took his season's tally to seven in seven games as he helped Trond Sollied's men to an emphatic 6-1 win at strugglers FC Brussels on Friday. The home side had taken the lead through a Christ Bruno free-kick on six minutes, but Balaban levelled ten minutes before half-time and after Gert Verheyen and Rune Lange had scored to put Brugge 3-1 ahead, Balaban then struck three goals in 24 second-half minutes.

Anderlecht agony
The win gave Brugge a four-point lead at the top of the Eerste Klasse, after their nearest rivals Anderlecht lost 2-1 in Charleroi in Friday's other game. Hugo Broos's side struggled to break down a stubborn defence, though Olivier Deschacht's 57th-minute equaliser looked to have given the visitors a share of the spoils. But goalkeeper Tristan Peersman let a harmless-looking free-kick from Laurent Macquet creep under him with five minutes remaining to gift Charleroi the win.

Classy Claessens
RAA Louviéroise could have leapfrogged Anderlecht with a win on Saturday, but they too came away empty-handed after Juan Ramon Curbelo's 37th-minute goal gave R. Standard de Liège a narrow victory. KRC Genk, meanwhile, were 2-1 winners against KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen, Gert Claessens heading their decisive second goal a minute from time against opponents reduced to ten men by Agyeman Dickson's early dismissal.

Two-goal wins
The win lifted Genk move to sixth, a place behind KAA Gent who beat R. Excelsior de Mouscron on Saturday. Gent's coach George Leekens returned to haunt his former club after second-half goals from Mamar Mamouni and Moubarak Boussoufa gave his new side a 2-0 victory. KSV Cercle Brugge won by the same margin at RAEC Mons, while Marc Hendrickx secured a 3-1 win for KSC Lokeren OV against KVC Westerlo, although Lokeren ended the match with ten men when Marel Baldvinsson was sent off.

Maiden win
Kanté Badjan Seydou was also sent off as his KSK Beveren side drew 1-1 at KV Oostende. Beveren are now the only team in the league yet to win after Marc Wilmots' K. Sint Truidense VV side secured their first three-point haul against K. Lierse SK.