Oguchi Onyewu were able to grab hold of first place after a drab scoreless draw with visiting Gent on Saturday night, but ceded it again to victorious Club Brugge on Sunday.

The US defender went the distance, and escaped a handball penalty whistle near time due to the gracious nature of referee Jerome Efong Nzolo.

Away keeper Bojan Jorgacević had to be on his toes early to stop a second minute Salim Toama restart drive.

Neither side was able to gain a clear upper hand in the opening 45, with Les Rouches suffering for a final ball on their rushes. Marouane Fellaini did have a chance to volley from a good position in the 39th minute, but sent it sailing well over frame.

Former Senegal star Khalilou Fadiga nearly gave Gent a lead at the hour mark. The attacker scooped up a poor Rory Espinoza boot and tried to catch the keeper out, only to land his try onto the crossbar.

Jorgacević cleaned up on late efforts from Igor De Camargo and Grégory Dufer to help his side claim a surprise point.

Standard will turn around quickly to host third place Cercle Brugge on Wednesday.

Line-ups
SL - Rorys Aragon Espinoza; Fred, Oguchi Onyewu, Mohamed Sarr, Dante Bonfim Costa, Grégory Dufer, Marouane Fellaini, Salim Toama (Dieumerci Mbokani 69'), Axel Witsel, Igor De Camargo (Réginal Goreux 88'), Milan Jovanovic

GENT - Bojan Jorgacević; Jonas De Roeck, Massimo Moia, Roberto Rosales, Marko Suler, Khalilou Fadiga (Zlatan  Ljubijankić 81'), Milos Maric, Bryan Ruiz, Bernd Thijs, Dominic Foley, Adékamni Olufadé (Gil Vermouth 73')

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ON THE SIDELINE
Greg Dalby did not appear as Charleroi drew nil-nil with visitors Germinal Beerschot on Saturday.