Brugge pegged back in Belgium

By Berend Scholten

Belgian First Division leaders Club Brugge KV dropped points for only the second time this season at the weekend, drawing 1-1 with KRC Genk to allow RSC Anderlecht to close the gap in second.

Gvozdenovic goal
Anderlecht defeated visitors KSV Cercle Brugge 5-2 at home to put the pressure on Brugge, who salvaged a draw despite falling behind to an 18th-minute Paul Kpaka goal for Genk. Ivan Gvozdenovic ensured the leaders went in for half-time level-pegging and although Birger Maertens was sent off 15 minutes from time, Brugge held on to remain the only undefeated side in the league.

Perfect penalties
Anderlecht are only two points behind after Pär Zetterberg kept his nerve in their five-goal display. The striker scored two penalties, with Christian Wilhelmsson, Goran Lovre and Oleg Iachtchouk adding the other goals. Djordje Svetlicic was dismissed for the visitors.

Second-half strikes
RAA Louviéroise remain in third after winning 2-0 away against KVC Westerlo, Rafik Zoheir Djebbour and Mario Espartero scoring second-half goals to wrap up the points. KAA Gent's fourth successive victory, a 2-1 home triumph against winless KV Oostende, lifted them up to fourth. Bjorn De Coninck and Wouter Vrancken did the damage either side of a Marco Nijs equaliser.

Charleroi slip
R. Charleroi SC slipped three places to seventh after drawing 2-2 away against K. Sint Truidense VV. Orlando Dos Santos Costa thought he had pinched all three points for the visitors when he put them 2-1 up ten minutes from the end, but there was still time for Benjamin De Ceulaer to grab a share of the spoils.

Hendrikx heroics
Elsewhere, an 85th-minute Marc Hendrikx goal ensured KSC Lokeren OV won their first away match of the season at KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen 2-1. R. Standard de Liège continued their good form, winning their third match in a row at home against ten-man R. Excelsior Mouscron 2-0. Sambegou Bangoura headed the home side into the lead just before half-time and Jonathan Walasiak doubled the lead four minutes into the second half before Patrice Noukeu was dismissed for the visitors.

Ten-man triumph
There was also a red card at Freethiel, where KSK Beveren defeated K. Lierse SK 2-1 despite losing Emmanuel Eboué midway through the second half. Goals from Marco Né and Ndri Romaric put Beveren in the drivnig seat and although Marius Mitu pulled a goal back in the 90th minute from the penalty spot, it came too late for Lierse.

Snelders scores
At the other aend of the table, FC Brussels leapfrogged opponents RAEC Mons into 15th spot thanks to a 2-1 away win, Kristof Snelders scoring the decisive goal 15 minutes from time.