Belgian First Division: Gent romp, Sint-Truiden gain rare point

A rampant second-half performance to crush OH Leuven 6-1 has helped Gent go top of the Belgian First Division.

Zlatan Ljubijankic had the home side ahead at the Jules Ottenstadion, though Leuven striker Jordan Remacle had his side level at the break.

But the floodgates opened in the second half, with Cesar Arzo putting Gent back in the lead three minutes after the re-start.

Ljubijankic added his second on 62 minutes, before Tim Smolders made it 4-1 nine minutes later.

Leuven goalkeeper Thomas Kaminski could only watch on as Gent scored twice in second-half injury time, with Elimane Coulibaly’s penalty and Yaya Soumahoro’s goal adding the final touches to the drubbing.

Gent moved to 19 points from nine games, but have played one more than Club Brugge (second) and Anderlecht (third) – two sides that are in action on Sunday.

Kortrijk claimed a 1-0 triumph over Mechelen at home, with Dalibor Veselinovic netting the winner on 76 minutes.

Mechelen finished with 10 men, after Cameroonian defender Antonio Ghomsi was handed a straight red card in the 81st minute.

Cercle Brugge missed an ideal chance to climb to second on the table, stumbling to a 2-2 draw with bottom side Sint-Truiden.

A late own-goal from Brugge defender Nuno Reis denied the home side victory but earned Sint-Truiden just their second point of the campaign, breaking a run of six league losses for the cellar dwellers.

Mons mounted a late resurgence to secure a 3-3 draw at home to Lokeren, with Mael Lepicier the hero for the hosts with two late goals.

Trailing 3-1 within the final 10 minutes, Lepicier struck in the 84th and 94th minutes to steal a point and send Mons into sixth spot on the table.

Finally, Westerlo and Zulte-Waregem played out a 1-1 stalemate, with the result not enough to see the former escape the relegation zone.