Belgium round-up: Brugge take advantage

Club Brugge KV moved level with leaders KRC Genk at the top of the Belgian first division table on Saturday after a convincing 4-0 away victory against KSK Beveren.

Stylish performance
While Genk were held by struggling RAA Louviéroise, Brugge joined their title rivals on 43 points with a stylish performance at the Freethiel stadium. Genk remain top due to their superior goal difference, while RSC Anderlecht, winners on Friday night, are third, a further point behind.

Simic penalty
After a goalless first period Brugge were quickly out of the blocks in the second half. Beveren goalkeeper Philip Deckers was adjudged to have brought down Josip Simic in the box and the Brugge man picked himself up to convert the penalty.

Verheyen volley
Simic was instrumental in the second, firing the ball over from the left for Gert Verheyen to volley home in the 70th minute. Substitute Andrés Mendoza crashed a shot in off the post with five minutes remaining before the impressive Simic scored from distance to cap a fine performance.

Points dropped
Genk dropped two valuable points on their travels after failing to break down Louviéroise. Midfielder Koen Daerden missed a glorious chance in the 16th minute, volleying his shot over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy. The best chance of the game came for the hosts just before the break but Frédéric Tilmant's shot came back off a post and the teams had to settle for a goalless draw.

Pelic double
KVC Westerlo ran out 3-1 winners at home to KAA Gent after netting two first-half penalties. Vedran Pelic grabbed both after ten and 17 minutes for his tenth and eleventh goals of the season. Saso Gajser pulled a goal back eight minutes before the break with a blistering shot but Marc Schaessens made the game safe after 58 minutes.

Four for Lierse
K. Lierse SK came back from a goal down at the break to net four unanswered strikes themselves and take the points at R. Antwerp FC. The hosts took the lead after just six minutes when Patrick Goots headed home. But in the second half Lierse pulled away, Frank Leen making the most of hesitation in the Antwerp defence to level the scores after 54 minutes.

Close range
Archie Thompson gave them the lead from close range twelve minutes later and Cheikh Gadiaga put the game out of Antwerp's reach soon after. Stijn Huysegems sealed the points seven minutes from time after outpacing the home rearguard.

Kristinsson the hero
Sporting Lokeren St Niklaas Waasland had Rúnar Kristinsson's goal on the hour to thank for seeing off KSC Endracht Aalst, the Icelandic star on hand to head home fellow countryman Arnar Grétarsson's free-kick.

Boffin free-kick
K. Sint Truidense fell a goal behind at home to R. Charleroi SC before turning the game around for a 2-1 win. Adelino Eduardo struck the opener for the visitors in the 69th minute but Peter Voets levelled 12 minutes from time, heading home Danny Boffin's free-kick. And it was the veteran Boffin who took the plaudits with a minute to go, crashing a 30-metre free-kick into the back of the Charleroi net.