Genk blunt Brugge charge

By Berend Scholten

Belgian First Division leaders Club Brugge KV saw their lead at the summit cut after suffering their second defeat of the season at KRC Genk.

Balaban free-kick
The side's sole loss this season had hitherto been at RSC Anderlecht in December but as soon as Orlando Engelaar and Kevin Vandenbergh had opened up a two-goal lead for Genk with strikes either side of the interval, they looked on course for a second defeat. Boško Balaban reduced the arrears with a free-kick just before the hour but they could not muster another as Genk held on for a 2-1 win.

Jestrovic double
Anderlecht closed the gap at the top of the table to eight points after two goals from Nenad Jestrovic in a ten-minute spell either side of half-time helped them to a 3-1 victory at KSV Cercle Brugge. Aruna Dindane was also on target, breaking the deadlock after just three minutes as Franky Vercauteren's side eased to their third successive win.

Standard run
R. Standard de Liège stretched their unbeaten run to ten games with a 3-0 win at strugglers R. Excelsior Mouscron. Karel Geraerts opened the scoring with a header on 23 minutes. Serhiy Kovalenko and Cedric Roussel added second-half goals.

Charleroi slip
R. Charleroi SC were held to a goalless draw by strugglers K. Sint-Truidense VV as they lost valuable ground in their pursuit of a European berth. The slip allowed KAA Gent to climb the table, but only after coming from behind against another relegation-threatened side, KV Oostende.

Waseige win
Wouter Vrancken cancelled out Jürgen Landuyt's fifth-minute strike just before half-time, before Nordin Jbari earned all three points on 78 minutes. The loss leaves Oostende mired in relegation worry - the side now lie second from bottom after Robert Waseige enjoyed his first victory as FC Molenbeek Brussels Strombeek coach with a 2-1 win against RAEC Mons.

Beveren leapfrog Lierse
KVC Westerlo defeated RAA Louviéroise by the same scoreline, while a Carl Hoefkens volley earned KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen their second successive win at KSC Lokeren OV. Finally, Kipre Kaiper, Alain Arunina and Ndri Romarci were all on target as inconsistent KSK Beveren won 3-1 at K. Lierse SK to leapfrog their opponents into tenth place.