Belgian First Division wrap: Leuven stun Brugge

21 October 2012 00:29

Club Brugge suffered their first loss of the season as unbeaten Genk made ground on the Belgian Pro League leaders on Saturday.

Brugge were stunned 4-1 away to Oud-Heverlee Leuven with Gambian forward Ibou Sawaneh netting a hat-trick in a heated contest.

The visitors went in front through Colombian striker Carlos Bacca early on, though the advantage lasted just seven minutes as Sawaneh levelled proceedings.

Sawaneh struck again in the 35th minute before OHL were reduced to 10 men when defender Kenny Thompson was dismissed for a second bookable offence.

Brugge defender Michael Almeback was given his marching orders 10 minutes later, with Sawaneh converting the resultant penalty in the 78th minute.

Zimbabwean midfielder Ovidy Karuru struck three minute later, sealing OHL's third straight win and moving them to sixth.

Elsewhere, goals from Jelle Vossen, Steven Joseph-Monrose and Glynor Plet earned Genk a 3-1 win at home to Beerschot.

Genk are third with five wins and six draws, just one point behind Brugge and Anderlecht, who are separated only by goal difference.

Kortrijk climbed to fourth after Moroccan midfielder Mustapha Oussalah scored the decisive goal in a 1-0 win away to Gent.

In other matches, 10-man Sporting Charleroi overcame Lierse 1-0 away from home.

Mechelen grabbed a 2-1 victory at Cercle Brugge despite the late dismissal of Cameroonian defender Antonio Ghomsi.

Goals from Swiss defender Mijat Maric, Congolese forward Nill de Pauw and Tunisian striker Hamdi Harbaoui clinched a 3-0 win for Lokeren at Zulte-Waregem.