Belgian First Division wrap: Gent, Cercle register wins

25 February 2012 23:02

Gent and Cercle Brugge won in the Belgian First Division on Saturday, while Lokeren produced a five-star performance at Kortrijk.

Gent remained in third with their 2-0 home success against Mons, which came thanks to two second-half strikes.

Remi Mareval gave the winners the lead on 61 minutes and Jesper Jorgensen sealed the points with a goal in the third minute of injury-time.

Cercle Brugge are just a point behind Gent in fourth after their 1-0 success against Zulte-Waregem.

Defender Anthony Portier scored the only goal of the game after 19 minutes to give Cercle their fourth consecutive win.

Also on Saturday, Lokeren won 5-2 despite being down to 10 men for over 45 minutes.

South African Ayanda Patosi gave Lokeren a 16th minute lead and although Steven Joseph Monrose hit back for the losers, Hamdi Harboui responded immediately.

Lokeren's Greek defender Giorgos Galitsios was given a second yellow card just two minutes before the break.

But a Baptiste Martin own goal extended Lokeren's lead to 3-1 and despite substitute Dalibor Veselinovic giving Kortrijk a lifeline, Harboui's second made sure of Lokeren's win.

An injury-time goal to substitute Ibrahima Gueye added polish to a superb victory on the road for Peter Maes' men.

In other matches, Mechelen condemned Westerlo to their sixth defeat in a row after their 3-1 away success while Beerschot edged OH Leuven 2-1.