Cloudy start to Vercauteren reign

By Berend Scholten

Franky Vercauteren's first game in charge at RSC Anderlecht ended in more disappointment for the Belgium champions as they were defeated 1-0 by the Belgian First Division's bottom side KV Oostende.

Nijs strike
Vercauteren took over at the helm following the sacking of Hugo Broos on Monday, but the 48-year-old's tenure got off to the worst of starts at home to Oostende. Marco Nijs capitalised on some poor defending to break the deadlock after just 25 minutes and although he was sent of 12 minutes into the second half, Anderlecht could not find an equaliser.

Record lost
The victory - only their third of the season - lifted the visitors off the foot of the table and although Anderlecht remain second, the loss of their 100 per cent home record means they are still level with KRC Genk. Genk could have gone second but their match at fourth-placed R. Standard Liège was postponed due to heavy rainfall, as was the encounter between K. Sint Truidense VV and KAA Gent.

Njock double
Jeremie Njock scored two and Jean-Pierre La Placa and Nicolas Gousse were also on target as third-from-bottom RAEC Mons earned a shock 4-1 win against K. Lierse SK. With Oostende's shock success, the results mean that FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek are now bottom after David Paas's solitary 75th-minute strike gave KVC Westerlo victory.

Last-gasp win
In an otherwise good weekend for the Eerste Klasse strugglers, KSV Cercle Brugge rose to 13th after twice coming from behind against KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen. Jan Masureel and Stijn De Smet scored to cancel out efforts from Carl Hoefkens and Mario Cvitanovic respectively, before Bram Vandenbussche edged them into the lead with less than two minutes remaining.

Mouscron held
The match between RAA Louviéroise and KSC Lokeren OV ended in stalemate while R. Excelsior Mouscron and KSK Beveren also shared the points after an exciting encounter at the Freethiel. Koen De Vleeschauwer and Marcin Zewlakow looked to have earned the visitors a narrow win after overturning Moussa Sanogo's early strike before Ndri Romaric made it 2-2 with a superb free-kick ten minutes from the final whistle.

Late game
In Sunday's late game, runaway leaders Club Brugge KV dropped points at home by drawing 1-1 against R. Charleroi SC. Brugge went behind thanks to a 36th-minute free-kick from Laurent Macquet but straight after the break, Rune Lange headed in the equaliser.