Belgian First Division wrap: Mons cruise, Anderlecht held

29 July 2012 01:06

Mons have started the Belgian First Division season in fine style, coasting to a 5-2 home victory over OH Leuven on Saturday.

After finishing 10th last season in the Belgian top flight, Vincenzo Scifo's men found five individual goalscorers at the Stade Charles Tondreau to head the league table on goal difference.

Zola Matumona fired the first goal in on 14 minutes for Mons, only for the visitors to draw level within 60 seconds via Karel Geraerts.

Nicolas Timmermans regained the lead for Mons shortly after, but again they were quick to leak an equaliser, as Ebrahim Savaneh scored in the 25th minute.

But three minutes later, Mons finally gained the lead for good when Peter Franquart got in on the scoring action, before Mustapha Jarju and Aloys Nong both found the back of the net in the final quarter of an hour to top off a great start to the season.

Champions Anderlecht showed great fight to take a point from their opener away to Kortrijk in a 1-1 draw at the Guldensporen Stadion.

Ervin Zukanovic put the home side ahead on 21 minutes, but the title holders nabbed a point when Guillaume Gillet teed up Olivier Deschacht for the equaliser.

Last season's runners-up Club Brugge began their quest to go one better in the 2012/13 campaign with a 3-1 home win over promoted Waasland-Beveren, with Lior Refaelov scoring a brace.

Doubles to Robin Henkens and Steven De Petter guided Mechelen to a 4-2 home victory over last season's second division champions Sporting Charleroi.

Finally, Lokeren earned a 4-2 win away at Beerschot's Olympisch Stadion after falling behind early.

Substitute Milos Maric scored a brace for the victors, with his goals coming in his first seven minutes on the pitch.