Belgium round-up: Wasteful Brugge stay top

Despite a surprise 5-2 defeat at third-placed K. Sint Truidense VV on Sunday, Club Brugge KV preserved their place at the top of the Belgian First Division ahead of Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waaslan.

Wasteful Ceh
The visitors took the lead thanks to an own goal from Thomas Caers after two minutes, but when Nastja Ceh then missed from the penalty spot soon after, it was the beginning of the end for Brugge. Peter Voets restored parity after 17 minutes and second-half goals from Claude Kalisa, Danny Boffin, Désiré M'bonabucya and Kris Buvens sealed Brugge's first defeat of the season. Gaëtan Englebert made it 5-2 in the last minute, although much of the damage had already been done by Sandy Martens' 58th-minute red card.

De Beule hat-trick
Brugge's reverse allowed Lokeren to close in on the leaders as David De Beule scored a hat-trick to inspire them to a 4-0 home win against R. AEC Mons at the Daknamstadion. Fourth-placed K. Lierse SK looked set for a narrow victory thanks to a goal from Stein Huysegems but a last-gasp effort from Moumouni Dagano earned KRC Genk a share of the spoils in a hard-fought encounter at the Lisp stadium.

Anderlecht win away
RSC Anderlecht continued their bright run of form with a 2-1 away win against KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen. Marc Hendrikx gave the visitors the lead on the half-hour mark but Kwame Quansah struck back before half-time. Nenad Jestrovic then secured all three points for Anderlecht with a superb effort on 64 minutes.

Mpenza missing
R. Excelsior Mouscron, without the injured Belgian international striker Mbo Mpenza, looked well below par as they were sent lost 2-0 at RAA Louvièroise. Mouscron stay seventh but missed the chance to close on the clubs above them, as Ricardo Magro struck twice for the home side to move La Louvière up to 12th in the table.

Beveren on the up
Kipre Kaiper also scored twice to lift KSK Beveren away from the relegation zone with a 3-1 win against R. Antwerp FC, while KV Mechelen and R. Standard de Liège shared the spoils in a goalless encounter.

Charleroi in trouble
Finally, KVC Westerlo increased their hopes of avoiding relegation with a 1-0 win against KAA Gent thanks to a goal from Jef Delen, while R. Charleroi SC remain isolated at the bottom of the standings with just five points after a 1-1 draw with KFC Lommelse SK.