Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liège rode Milan Jovanović's hat trick to a 4-1 triumph over visiting FC Brussels on Saturday and a share of the Jupiler League lead.

The US defender, who is set for thumb surgery on Monday, acted as the backline marshal for the full 90. Despite the procedure, Onyewu is expected to be in uniform when Les Rouches hit the road for a Thursday UEFA Cup second qualifying round opener at semi-pro Luxembourg side Käerjéng.

Jovanović started the Sclessin party in the 11th minute with a special individual effort. The attacker wiggled his way in from the left to set up Igor De Camargo. The striker failed to control, but Jovanović continued his run to scoop up and fire home.

The Man of the Match doubled the advantage just past the half hour. After Sven Verdonck got a little too handsy on the Serbian in the area, he dutifully deposited the spot kick.

Standard continued their offensive in the early second half, but De Camargo and Jovanović wasted chances. Instead, it was FC Brussels that struck next, cutting the lead in half with a Richard Culek weak clearance punisher near the hour.

Any rally drama would have to wait foir another day as Atte-Oudeyi Mohama Zanzan drew a straight red for chopping down the influential Jovanović in the 65th minute.

Five minutes later, Marouane Fellaini grabbed his second goal in as many weeks by nodding home a Salim Toama restart.

Jovanović capped the rout with another penalty conversion, earned when Julien Gorius handled in his area with 16 minutes left.

Scoring
SL - Milan Jovanović 1 11'
SL - Milan Jovanović 2 (PK) 34'
FCB - Richard Culek 59'
SL - Marouane Fellaini 2 (Salim Toama) 70'
SL - Milan Jovanović 3 (PK) 74'

Line-ups
SL - Olivier Renard; Marcos Camozzato, Oguchi Onyewu, Mohamed Sarr, Costa Santos Bonfim Dante, Salim Toama (Siramana Dembele 79'), Steven Defour, Marouane Fellaini, Milan Jovanović (Ali Lukunku 87'), Axel Witsel, Igor De Camargo (Dieumerci Mbokani 76')

FCB - Patrick Nys; Christ Bruno, Eric Deflandre, Sydney Kargbo, Dieudonné Owona, Sven Verdonck (Alan Haydock 81'), Atte-Oudeyi Mohama Zanzan, Richard Culek, Julien Gorius, Zola Matumona (Aurelien Coppin 72'), Jean-Pierre Eale Lutula (Michael De Greef 84')