Belgian First Division wrap: Anderlecht held, Waregem close

Zulte-Waregem have moved within four points of Belgian First Division leaders Anderlecht with a 3-2 win away to Mechelen.

As Anderlecht were stunned by a late goal in a 1-1 draw by Gent on Saturday, Waregem resisted Mechelen’s comeback after leading 3-0 with less than half an hour to play at Argosstadion Achter de Kazerne.

Waregem grabbed an early lead in Mechelen through Jens Naessens’ seventh-minute goal before seemingly putting the game to bed around the hour mark.

Senegalese striker Mbaye Leye was the architect on both occasions as Waregem scored twice in three minutes, setting up Aleksandar Trajkovski in the 60th minute before also providing the final pass for Ibrahima Conte’s goal.

But Waregem’s third goal seemed to spark Mechelen with Boubacar Dialiba scoring immediately after Conte, while Mads Junker’s 85th-minute strike made it 3-2, ensuring a nervous finish for the visitors.

Waregem held on, however, to move to 63 points, keeping the pressure on Anderlecht (67 points) ahead of the start of the Belgian play-offs next week.

Anderlecht had looked on track for victory in Gent after Milan Jovanovic’s first-half strike but the home side snatched a draw with seven minutes remaining thanks to Rodgers Kola’s second goal in as many games.

In Mons, Genk scored five times in the second half to thrash the hosts 5-1, while Sporting Charleroi cruised to a 3-0 victory over Waasland-Beveren.

Benjamin De Ceulaer scored twice for Genk as they overturned Mons’ one-goal lead at half-time to record an emphatic victory, while David Pollet was the match-winner for Charleroi, notching two goals of his own.

In other Belgian First Division results, Lokeren won 2-0 away to Standard Liege, Beerschot defeated Cercle Brugge 3-1 and Club Brugge knocked off Lierse 3-0, while Kortrijk and OH Leuven played out a goalless draw.