Another feverish weekend in the Jupiler League saw a nine goal thriller, another coach sacked, a further call for video technology and four more goals for leaders Anderlecht.
The nine goal thriller took place at the Jan Breydel stadium where Club Brugge lost 5-4 to Genk despite leading 4-2 with 20 minutes remaining. The chief assassin was Kevin De Bruyne with a sparking hat trick including the fourth and fifth goals. See the goals at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JxsxoLmudl8
The result was catastrophic for Club Brugge coach Adrie Koster who was sacked the day after the match. Although he’d overseen four successive defeats in three competitions, there was still some sympathy for Koster. The Dutch trainer is seen as a gentlemen rather in the Arsene Wenger mode and he has never sought to blame his younger players or make excuses, despite recent injuries to three experienced defenders. Although Club Brugge’s squad was completely revamped in the summer, Koster was one of the few survivors of the revolution. Even before that though, he’d been repeatedly described as being on borrowed time. Finally Koster paid for the team’s inability to defend a lead and the performances recently have been naive at best. Club Brugge are one of the most ambitious clubs in Belgium and wil be looking for a top rank replacement.
The call for video technology came after Gent had a legitimate goal disallowed in their 1-1 draw at Mons. Afterwards the referee made the usual excuse that his view had been blocked and that video technology would have helped. Gent’s Bernd Thijs took two penalties, converting one.
Anderlecht had a stroll in the park against lowly Lierse. Despite lacking Lucas Biglia and Dieumerci Mbokani, the Brussels club scored four, with two more for Guillaume Gillet. The midfielder playing in advanced role this season is now the leading Belgian goal scorer, level with another midfielder, Gent’s Thijs, on seven goals. Meanwhile, Standard drew 1-1 with bottom club Sint Truiden, a result that will have done nothing to ease supporters’ concerns.
Elsewhere, KV Mechelen had their first home win since August when they scraped home against lowly Westerlo. Cercle Brugge continued their unbeaten run at Zulte Waregem (1-1), where the home team dominated. Jeremy Serwy – ex Charleroi – debuted and took the eye. Kortrijk had a good win at Lokeren, their third on the trot. Finally Leuven took three points at home to Beerschot with Karel Geraerts scoring the winner just before the end; Geraerts was a witness at the wedding of Beerschot keeper Stijn Stijnen. Not a friendly gesture.