Leading pair make winning returns

By Berend Scholten

Club Brugge KV and RSC Anderlecht began the new year as they finished 2004 by both claiming comfortable victories as the Eerste Klasse restarted following its winter break.

Swift start
Brugge maintained their seven-point advantage at the summit after racing into a two-goal lead against KSK Beveren. Jonathan Blondel and Rune Lange were both on target before the half hour and although Moussa Sanogo pulled a goal back on the stroke of half-time, Peter Van Der Heyden restored the two-goal cushion on 75 minutes.

Anderlecht win
Anderlecht also found the net early in their match at home against R. Excelsior Mouscron when Aruna Dindane broke the deadlock on 18 minutes. They struggled to kill off the mid-table side, however, and it was not until two minutes from the final whistle that Yves Vanderhaeghe finally made the game safe.

Charleroi stalemate
A gap of six points has now opened up between second and third place, after R. Charleroi SC were held to a disappointing goalless draw in the Walon derby at RAA Louviéroise. It stretched the visitors’ unbeaten run to eight games but also allowed R. Standard de Liège, whom they face next weekend, to move to within a point.

Conceiçao sets Standard
Standard scored four goals in a 30-minute spell either side of half-time as they coasted to victory against K. Lierse SK. Sergio Conceiçao scored from a from a free-kick and penalty either side of a Laurent Fassotte own-goal before Sambegou Bangoura made it four. On 84 minutes, Archie Thompson reduced the deficit for Lierse, who had by that point seen Marius Mitu dismissed.

Mons relief
Christopher Baratto was also sent off for K. Sint Truidense VV as they suffered a shock 4-1 defeat at the hands of RAEC Mons. Nicolas Goussé struck twice just after the interval and although Michael Goossens pulled one back, Marc Schaessens and Mohamed Aliyu Datti were both on target in the closing stages to lift Mons off the foot of the table.

Bance hat-trick
KV Oostende now lie bottom as Herman Vermeulen got off to a disappointing start at the helm with a 2-0 loss against KVC Westerlo, while FC Brussels remain in a relegation spot after a 3-1 defeat at KRC Genk. Another new coach, Willy Reynders, was more successful in his first game in charge with Aristide Bance scoring a hat-trick as KSC Lokeren OV defeated KSV Cercle Brugge 4-0. The match between KAA Gent and KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen ended 0-0.