Belgium: Standard hold Anderlecht, Club win Brugge derby

The Belgian top clash between Anderlecht and Standard Liege ended 1-1, as the hosts dropped their first two points of the season.

Standard played most of the match with ten men on the pitch after Axel Witsel’s red card in the 25th minute.

Despite that disadvantage, the reigning champions took the lead through Dieumerci Mbokani 11 minutes after the red card.

Anderlecht soon recovered however and it was Guillaime Gillet to level the score with three minutes to go in the first half.

No more goals were scored in the second half, which leaves Anderlecht in first place with 13 points from five games, while Standard remain at a distance of six points, in seventh position.

The Brugge derby between Cercle and Club turned out to be a very entertaining event in which the home side took a surprising 2-0 lead with goals from Oleg Iachtchouk (2nd) and Thomas Buffel (10th).

Wesley Sonck then got one back in the 14th minute, after which Brugge continued to push for an equaliser. The guests weren’t helped by Antolin Alcaraz’ second yellow card in the 54th minute however.

But that didn’t keep Club from equalising after all, with Joseph Akpala netting for 2-2 in the 65th minute. The winning goal came 12 minutes later as Sonck scored his second of the day, 2-3.

Brugge are in fourth position at three points from the leaders, Cercle are in 13th place.