After a weekend that saw 47 yellow and two red cards, both important ones in terms of Jupiler League rankings, Gent and Cercle Brugge now share the top spot. Trond Sollied’s Gent took the three points from a visit to Zulte Waregem. Losing at half time, Gent came back to win after Zulte’s Miguel Dachelet was sent off for a professional foul. Bernd Thijs converted the resulting free kick and later added a penalty. The final score was 3-1 for Sollied’s men. Their first big test is next weekend when Anderlecht are the visitors.
Anderlecht themselves did what was needed to take three points at home to Kortrijk. The Brussels club played some entertaining football with Matias Suarez, Fernando Canesin, Milan Jovanovic – who scored again – and Lucas Biglia all prominent and combining well. American Sacha Kljestan had one of his best games for the club.
Level with Gent at the top are Cercle Brugge. It’s been several decades since Cercle were flying so high. Coach Bob Peeters tells his players to go out and enjoy themselves and it seems to be working. The club has good links in Portugal and a recent signing from that country, Rudy, added two more goals on Saturday to make it five in five games. He’s mainly been playing in the lower leagues in Portugal and he looks a snip at €300,000.
Slotted in just behind Cercle are the ‘other’ Brugge team, Club Brugge. Seen as one of the favourites for the title, ‘Club’ took the honours at Mechelen (2-1). Top displays for Club’ came from fast-maturing midfielder Vadis Odjidja and, making his first start, Thomas Meunier. Club Brugge seemed to be in charge but looked vulnerable when Denis Alibec, on loan from Inter, came on and scored in the 83rd minute. ‘Club’ held out. It was KV Mechelen’s first home defeat since December 2010.
Standard Liege also won, against Westerlo, but that was thanks to a Franck Berrier penalty two minutes from time. Jan Ceulemans was so upset with the decision that he refused to attend the traditional press conference. For Standard, Geoffrey Mujangi Bia, Luis Manuel Seijas and Gohi Bi Cyriac all made their first appearances of the season, all as substitutes.
Mons went down to their first defeat of the season, 3-1, at Leuven. The referee came in for severe criticism, especially for excluding Ebrahim Ibou for encroaching at a free kick and then allegedly applauding ironically. Red cards could also have been shown to Mons’ Benjamin Nicaise and Leuven’s Bjorn Ruytinx. There were two goals for Leuven from ‘Chuka’ Ogbu.
Saturday’s other game saw Lierse share the points with Lokeren, with the visitors scoring – through Benjamin Mokulu – in extra time. On Friday, champions Genk visited neighbours Sint Truiden and came away with the three points. It was Franky van der Elst’s debut as Sint Truiden’s coach. With 20 minutes left, Genk led 3-1 thanks to two goals from Thomas Buffel and one from Jelle Vossen. As is their wont, the home side fought back to 3-3 only for Daniel Tozser to hit the winner from a free kick three minutes from time.
As well as Gent-Anderlecht, next weekend also sees Genk at home to Standard Liege. Cercle Brugge should stay top as they welcome Lierse. Club Brugge are now the only unbeaten team.