Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liege took a tentative Jupiler League perch by posting a scoreless draw at defending champs Anderlecht on Friday night.

The US international, who went the distance in central defense for the visitors, and set up the game's first chance in the opening minute. Onyewu scooped a ball behind the defense for Axel Witsel, who fired into the side netting from a sharp angle.

Les Rouches continued to carry the early play, with Anderlecht keeper Daniel Zitka forced into a highlight reel save after nine minutes. Marouane Fellaini applied a firm header to Grégory Dufer's restart from the right, only to have the Mauves netminder acrobatically paw it away.

In the 19th minute, the hosts came into the game thanks to a Bart Goor breakaway. Jan Polak played the him in alone with a fine through ball, but the veteran midfielder's lob missed the target.

Just past the half hour, Marcin Wasilewski left the homes fan wanting after going close from a smart Ahmed Hassan set-up.

The teams continued to slug it out after the break, with chances at a premium.

Rorys Aragon Espinoza made a dazzling stop on Hassan's 54th minute header from a Jonathan Legear free kick, and a minute later, Standard's Dante Bonfim Costa had a penalty gripe ignored.

The match winded down with Anderlecht on the prowl, but they were unable to find the net.

The result nudged Standard into first place ahead of Club Brugge on goal differential ahead of next Friday's visit from Charleroi.

Line-ups
SL - Rorys Aragon Espinoza; Marcos Camozzato, Oguchi Onyewu, Mohamed Sarr, Dante Bonfim Costa, Marouane Fellaini, Grégory Dufer (Marco Ingrao 67'), Grégory Dufer, Steven Defour, Axel Witsel, Milan Jovanovic, Dieumerci Mbokani (Igor De Camargo 78')

AND - Daniel Zitka; Olivier Deschacht, Roland Juhasz, Nicolas Pareja (Mark de Man 78'), Marcin Wasilewski, Lucas Biglia, Jan Polak, Bart Goor, Ahmed Hassan, Ahmed Hassan (Serhat Akin 82'), Nicolas Frutos, Jonathan Legear (Mbo Mpenza 68')