Belgian First Division: KAA Gent 4 Lierse 1

Midfielder Bernd Thijs converted two penalties in Gent’s 4-1 rout of relegation battlers Lierse in the Belgian First Division on Friday.

The win moved Gent to within eight points of league leaders Anderlecht and five points behind second-placed Genk.

Lierse made the worst possible start to the match at the Jules Ottenstadion, with an own goal from defender Gonzague van Dooren inside the opening five minutes gifting Gent the lead.

Thijs then stepped up with penalties either side of half-time to put the result beyond doubt, but a penalty from Lierse’s Wesley Sonck nine minutes from full-time added a little respectability to the scoreline.

An injury-time goal from Slovenian striker Zlatan Ljubijankic, a second-half substitute, completed the rout and helped Gent stay in touch with the top two, while Lierse are second from the bottom – three points short of Germinal Beerschot who are safe in 14th place.