SINT-TRUIDEN, Belgium (Interstat) — Sint-Truiden defeated Mechelen 3-0 on Sunday in the First Division A season opener for both teams, played at Daio Wasabi Stayen Stadium. Playing at home, Sint-Truiden scored three unanswered goals. Arbnor Muja opened the scoring in the 24th minute. Taiga Hata doubled the lead in first-half stoppage time, scoring in the 45th minute plus three. Ryan Merlen added a goal in the 71st minute. Midfielder Merlen also had an assist, finishing with a goal and an assist. Defender Hata scored once. Forward Muja scored once. Substitutes Redouane Halhal and Massimo Decoene each contributed an assist. Defender Robert-Jan Vanwesemael also assisted. The match featured four yellow cards: Massimo Decoene in the 40th minute, Redouane Halhal in the 48th, Robert-Jan Vanwesemael in the 69th and Ryan Merlen in the 87th. The three goals came from three different scorers. Sint-Truiden improved to 1-0 in league play and across all competitions. Mechelen fell to 0-1 in the league and overall. The win was the first of the season for Sint-Truiden. Mechelen was shut out for the first time this season. The game was played without any red cards.