Belgian First Division wrap: Lokeren fight for point, Genk climb table

Zulte-Waregem missed a chance to put pressure on league-leaders Anderlecht with a 1-1 draw at Lokeren in Belgian First Division on Saturday.

With Anderlecht playing away on Sunday against Waasland-Beveren, Zulte-Waregem had the opportunity to close the gap to just three points and were right on track as Thorgan Hazard put them ahead on 39 minutes.

But a second-half equaliser to Lokeren’s Walter Balufo cancelled out the advantage at the Daknamstadion.

Genk moved into fourth position with a 2-0 victory at Beerschot, leapfrogging them provisionally above Standard Liege in the standings.

A brace to Genk striker Jelle Vossen, one in each half, took his season tally to 16 goals as Beerschot still languish in the relegation zone, one point from safety.

Club Brugge came from behind to beat OH Leuven 3-1 as they established a five-point lead over seventh-placed Kortrijk.

Karel Geraerts opened the scoring for Leuven on 50 minutes before goals to Maxime Lestienne and Lior Refaelov in the 62nd and 66th minutes turned the game in Brugge’s favour.

The game was sealed seven minutes from time through Ivan Trickovsi giving Brugge a crucial three points and they hold a comfortable buffer in the last European qualification position.

In other results, a Brecht Dejaeghere strike sealed a 1-0 win for Kortrijk against Gent while Mechelen overcame Cercle Brugge 2-0.

Ten-man Sporting Charleroi extended Lierse’s winless run to 10 with a 1-0 home triumph despite goalscorer Guiseppe Rossini’s 66th-minute dismissal.