Belgium round-up: Anderlecht keep the pressure on

RSC Anderlecht are second in the table after emerging with a hard-fought 1-0 win from their visit to third-placed K. Lierse SK on Sunday.

Dindane the hero
Aruna Dindane opened the scoring with a clever header from Walter Baseggio's curling free-kick in the 15th minute. Nenad Jestrovic then went close to adding a second for the visitors but hit the post when clean through with only keeper Yves Vanderstraeten to beat. Arouna Kone worked hard for the hosts and made life difficult for Hannu Tihinen and Glen De Boeck in the Anderlecht defence but the away side hung on to secure three valuable points.

Saeternes hat-trick
Leaders Club Brugge KV returned to winning ways with a 4-2 home victory against R. AEC Mons. Bengt Saeternes, Brugge's Norwegian forward, scored a hat-trick as his side bounced back from successive defeats against R. Charleroi SC and Anderlecht. Saeternes opened the scoring in the ninth minute and scored his second two minutes later.

Late consolation
Cédric Roussel pulled a goal back on 14 minutes, but Olivier De Cock all but sealed the three points when he restored Brugge's two-goal advantage midway through the first half. Saeternes completed his hat-trick four minutes before the interval, rendering Jean-Pierre La Placa's 47th-minute strike little more than a consolation for mid-table Mons.

Remarkable comeback
Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waaslan continue to impress and maintained their challenge for a place in next season's UEFA Champions League with a 3-2 home win against R. Excelsior Mouscron. The visitors seemed certain to end their recent run of defeats when they held a two-goal lead after 46 minutes thanks to goals from Marcin Zewlakow and Steve Dugardein. However, Sambegou Bangoura (50), Runard Kristinsson (57) and Arnar Gretarsson (80) were all on target to complete a remarkable comeback.

Buvens double
Kris Buvens scored both goals as K. Sint Truidense VV a 2-1 home victory over Charleroi. Buvens opened the scoring inside three minutes and added his second after 22 minutes. Eduardo pulled a goal back for the visitors eight minutes before half-time, but Darioush Yazdani and Gauthier Reamacle wasted good second-half chances to equalise.

Genk hopes dented
Champions KRC Genk's hopes of defending their title are now over following a 3-1 away defeat at the hands of KVC Westerlo. David Paas, a former Genk player, gave the hosts the lead in the 21st minute, before Kevin Vandenbergh levelled matters on the hour mark. Knut Henry Haraldsen restored Westerlo's advantage midway through the second period and Tosin Dosunmu struck with four minutes remaining to see the win.

Sweet revenge for Standard
Elsewhere, R. Standard de Liège exacted revenge for their Belgian Cup defeat by RAA Louviéroise with a 2-0 win in La Louviere. KSK Beveren ran out 6-0 winners against bottom club KV Mechelen, while KFC Germinal Beerschot Antwerpen and R. Antwerp FC played out a goalless draw. KFC Lommelse SK, battling against liquidation, were unable to field a team against KAA Gentand lost 5-0 by forfeit.