Buffaloes come out on top of "war game"
AA Gent posted a well-needed victory against top-6 rivals Standard de Liège on Thursday night (1-0). A Khalifa Coulibaly header after the break secured AA Gent the 3 points, though Standard had more of the (scarce) goalscoring chances.
Gent-Standard was a tactical, closed game, a physical battle with many man-to-man fights in midfield and a lot of pressure on the players in ball possession, from the start until the dying minutes. "This was a very intense game, of the type you seldom see in Belgium", said AA Gent coach Hein Vanhaezebrouck. "I understand this was not a big pleasure for the spectators, but sometimes it's war."
The win allows AA Gent to keep a perfect home record of 6 wins in 6 matches. The Ghent Buffaloes also leapfrog Standard to 5th place in the rankings.
Zulte Waregem, the revelations
In other action, Waasland-Beveren recovered from their 5-0 defeat at Standard last weekend, to keep the visitors from Mouscron at 0-0. Both teams are fighting relegation.
Earlier, on Wednesday, leaders Zulte Waregem were very efficient to win 0-2 at a hard-working Sint-Truiden. Anderlecht downed KV Mechelen 2-0, while Club Brugge thrashed Westerlo 4-0. Westerlo ended the game with just 9 players.
Zulte Waregem keep a 2-point bonus on second-placed Anderlecht at the top of the table. Westerlo are bottom, tied with Sint-Truiden and one point below Waasland-Beveren.