Brugge breeze past Westerlo

By Berend Scholten

Leading pair Club Brugge KV and RSC Anderlecht extended the gap between second and third in the Eerste Klasse to seven points as both secured home wins at the weekend.

Balaban opener
Brugge briefly extended their own advantage at the top to six points on Friday, with a 2-0 victory against KV Westerlo at the Jan-Breydel-Stadion. Boško Balaban opened the scoring with his ninth goal of the season before Belgian international Gert Verheyen sealed a comfortable win on 36 minutes.

Louvière deflated 
Anderlecht had more trouble against third-placed RAA Louviéroise at the Constant Vanden Stock. The visitors took a surprise first-half lead through Mario Espartero, but Walter Baseggio equalised on 64 minutes before Pär Zetterberg's penalty five minutes later overturned the deficit.

Matthijs hat-trick
The defeat meant Louvière slipped to fourth after KAA Gent capitalised on the dropped points with a 3-0 win at home against FC Brussels. Tim Matthijs vindicated coach George Leekens' decision to include him by scoring a hat-trick, including two goals in as many minutes, to seal the three points and leave Brussels 16th.

Standard success
Mohamed Aliyu Datti also scored a quick-fire double but could not prevent RAEC Mons losing 3-2 against R. Standard de Liège. The goals overturned Oguchi Onyewu's 48th-minute opener, but Onyewu quickly restored parity before Michel Garbini sealed the points for Standard in the closing stages.

Beveren blow
Another UEFA Cup competitor, KSK Beveren, still seemed in shock after their 6-1 defeat at the hands of NK Dinamo Zagreb on Thursday as they lost 2-0 at home against KRC Genk. K. Sint Truidense VV won by the same scoreline against KSC Lokeren OV, for whom Tailson was dismissed. Benjamin De Ceulaer sealed victory in the 90th minute to lift the side away from the relegation zone.

Winless Oostende
Bottom side KV Oostende are still awaiting their first win of the season after losing 1-0 at KSV Cercle Brugge after Paulus Roiha's 61st-minute goal. Elsewhere, Cadu scored twice in KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen's 3-1 win against R. Excelsior Mouscron to take his season total to eight, while K. Lierse SK and R. Charleroi SC drew 1-1.