Racing Genk took a three-point lead at the top of the Belgian first division on Sunday with a convincing 5-1 victory at home to 10-man Mons-Bergen. Two goals from Tom Soetaers and one apiece from Kevin Vandenbergh, Hans Cornelis and Alex Da Silva kept Genk's unbeaten run intact. Hocine Ragued grabbed a consolation goal for the visitors who had Francois Zoko sent offf in the 50th minute.
Genk have moved on to 23 points, clear of second-placed Anderlecht who won 4-0 at Zulte Waregem 24 hours earlier. Anderlecht coach Frank Vercauteren described his side's win as "the perfect performance" ahead of their Champions League home tie against AC Milan on Tuesday. Club Bruges missed their chance to grab third spot earlier on Sunday when they were held to a 1-1 draw at FC Brussels.
Jonathan Tehoue put the home team in front in the 12th minute, but Mannaseh Ishiaku equalised 15 minutes from time. Charleroi stayed in third spot on 18 points following a 2-1 home win over St Truiden. Lierse remain bottom of the pile following a 1-0 defeat at home to Beveren.
18 September 2006
Racing Genk threw away a chance to join Anderlecht at the top of the Belgian first division when they were held 3-3 at Roeselare on Sunday.
Ivan Bosnjak opened the scoring for Genk three minutes before halftime with Eric Matoukou doubling the visitors' lead in the 55th minute. Koen De Vleeschauwer hit back for the home side in the 63rd minute before the Croatian Bosnjak struck Genk's third goal 10 minutes later.
A late fightback by the home team earned Roselare a share of the spoils with goals from Genk old boy Paul Kpaka after 74 minutes and Sebastien Dufoor in the final minute. Anderlecht, who won 2-0 at home to Lokeren on Saturday, top the table on 16 points from six games with Genk two points adrift on 14 points. Westerlo and Charleroi are on 11 points.
Westerlo were held to a scoreless draw at Germinal Beerschot on Saturday while Charleroi were held 2-2 by Beveren. Lierse remain at the foot of the table with just one point following a 2-1 defeat away to Cercle Bruges and are now three points behind Beveren. Sunday's other matches saw Club Bruges beat Sint Truiden 3-2 away from home and Ghent and Zulte Waregem finish scoreless. Elsewhere on Saturday, Mons-Bergen won 1-0 at home to Excelsior Mouscron and Standard Liege beat FC Brussels 2-1.
06 August 2006
A penalty from Egypt captain Ahmed Hassan gave 10-man Anderlecht a 1-0 win at home to Germinal Beerschot in the Belgian first division on Saturday and kept the champions' 100 percent record intact. Hassan fired home his 49th minute spot kick after Mbark Boussoufa was taken down inside the box by Beerschot defender Kurt Van Dooren.
The home team were forced to play the second half with 10 men after defender Anthony Vanden Borre was dismissed a minute before the break for a second bookable offence. Anderlecht are one of five teams who have won both their opening two matches. Racing Genk, Westerlo, FC Brussels and Excelsior Mouscron all won on Saturday to lead the table.
They will be joined on six points by Club Bruges if the 2005 champions win at Roeselare on Sunday. Genk moved to the top earlier on Saturday with a 3-0 win at Lierse. A goal in either half from Kevin Vandenbergh and one in between from Thomas Chatelle made it two wins from their opening two games for Genk.
Elsewhere, three first half goals earned Westerlo all three points at Beveren, while FC Brussels were 1-0 winners against Zulte Waregem. Newly-promoted Mons-Bergen continued their good start following up a draw on the opening day with a 2-0 win at home to Sint Truiden, who had two players sent off.
Standard Liege, who kick off their Champions League campaign against Steaua Bucharest on Wednesday, suffered their second surprise defeat in succession on Friday night when they went down 2-1 at home to Charleroi.
