Dynamic duo stretch lead

By Berend Scholten

Club Brugge KV consolidated their position at the top of the Belgian First Division, but their 2-0 victory against KSC Lokeren OV was tainted by striker Bosko Balaban's dismissal.

Van Tornhout header
In a game with remarkable symmetry, Simões De Oliviera opened the scoring in the first minute, but it was not until the last minute of added time that substitute Dieter Van Tornhout headed a second. By this stage, Brugge were down to ten men after Balaban had been dismissed, but Lokeren were unable to take advantage of their numerical superiority.

Derby match
RSC Anderlecht remain just two points behind after defeating FC Brussels in the derby game on Friday by a solitary Pär Zetterberg strike. Anderlecht, who welcomed veteran Yves Vanderhaeghe back after an eight-month absence and handed a debut to Fabrice Ehret, were less than convincing and were relieved to see a late Aloys Nong effort for Brussels ruled out for offside.

Late equaliser
Third-placed RAA Louviéroise conceded a goal five minutes from time as they lost ground on the leading pair. They looked on course for victory after Mannaseh Ishiaku's early strike but Daniel Cruz then capitalised on some poor defending to earn KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen a point.

Tchite lob
That slip allowed R. Standard de Liège to join La Louvière in third after they beat KVC Westerlo 2-0. A sublime lob from Mohammed Tchite and a penalty from Philippe Léonard gave Standard their fourth successive win. R. Charleroi SC moved to fifth, despite going a goal down against KSK Beveren. Orlando Dos Santos Costa and Abdelmajid Oulmers gave the home side a 2-1 win.

Daerden return
Standard and Charleroi moved up at the expense of KAA Gent, who dropped to sixth after losing 3-2 away against K. Lierse SK in a lively encounter that saw three players sent off. Elsewhere, Koen Daerden was also dismissed as his father, new RAEC Mons coach Jos Daerden, led his new side to a 2-2 draw away against former club KRC Genk. The home side's Nicolas Goussé was also shown the red card.

Five-star Cercle
Elsewhere, KSV Cercle Brugge recorded an emphatic 5-1 win against K. Sint Truidense VV, with two goals apiece for Darko Pivaljevic and Andreas Vlahos, while R. Excelsior Mouscron drew 1-1 against bottom side KV Oostende.