Belgian First Division wrap: Lierse maintain lead

Lierse remain two points clear in Group A of the Belgian First Division Play-off II following a 3-0 win over Cercle Brugge on Saturday.

Hosts Lierse led through a goal from right midfielder Kris De Wree 18 minutes into the match at the Herman Vanderpoorten Stadium.

They had to wait until the 78th minute to double their lead when veteran Canada international Tomasz Radzinski struck to make it 2-0, before Egyptian forward Mohamed El-Gabbas completed the scoring five minutes later.

The win sees Lierse stay top of the group, two points ahead of Sint-Truiden, who kept pace with a 2-1 win at home to Mechelen.

Defender Denis Odoi and midfielder Gregory Dufer scored either side of half-time for Sint-Truiden.

Both sides finished a man down after Mechelen’s David de Storme and Sint Truiden’s Peter Delorge both received second yellow cards.

Christian Benteke pulled one back for the visitors with seven minutes remaining, but they were unable to find an equaliser.

Defeat leaves Mechelen bottom of the group with five points.

Elsewhere on Saturday, Zulte-Waregem moved top of Group B following a 1-0 win at home to Germinal Beerschot.

Midfielder Thomas Matton netted the winner for Zulte-Waregem in the 23rd minute.

Westerlo slipped to second place after they could only draw 1-1 away to Kortrijk.

The visitors went in front through Paulo Henrique’s goal in the 56th minute, but the lead lasted just four minutes before Brecht Capon levelled from the penalty spot for Kortrijk.

Westerlo were forced to play out the final 30 minutes a man down after Geoffrey Cabeke received a second yellow card for conceding the penalty.

Kortrijk remain bottom of Group B with just two points, while Westerlo are now second, one point behind the leaders.