Belgian First Division wrap: Gent on the rise, Anderlecht tumble

Gent consolidated third place in the Belgian First Division with a 4-1 victory over Standard Liege on Sunday.

The hosts at Jules Ottenstadion went ahead in the ninth minute, when Ivorian Yaya Soumahoro found the back of the net.

But Liege hit back seven minutes later through Senegalese striker Mbaye Leye.

From there, Yassine El Ghanassy and Bernd Thijs scored to put Gent 3-1 up at the break, before a Kanu own-goal handed the home side their fourth late on.

Defender Cesar Arzo was dismissed in the 86th minute for Gent, but it did little to alter the result.

Anderlecht surrendered top spot on the table after being upset 2-0 by Westerlo.

The hosts at Het Kuipje opened the scoring on the hour mark through an Aleksandr Iakovenko spot kick, before Dieter Dekelver netted 17 minutes later to gift Genk top spot on goal difference from Anderlecht.

The three points moved Westerlo into 10th spot on the table.