Anderlecht enjoys profitable day

Second-placed Gent was held goalless at home by Zulte-Waregem while third-placed Club Brugge was beaten 1-0 in front of its own fans by Mechelen, for whom Alessandro Cordaro scored the winning goal after seven minutes.

In the night's other matches, Beerschot thrashed Cercle Brugge 4-0 with goals from Hernan Losada (two), Sherjill MacDonald and Vusimuzi Nyoni, while a second-half brace from Benjamin De Ceulaer earned Lokeren a 2-0 win over Lierse.

Also, Leuven fought back from a 2-0 half-time deficit to draw 2-2 at Mons. The home side took control with goals from Ebrahim Savaneh and Jeremy Perbet but Jordan Remacle pulled a goal back on the hour before he netted an 87th-minute equaliser from the penalty spot after Nicolas Timmermans had been sent off.