Standard Liège failed to widen their lead atop the Belgian top flight, suffering a quick reply KV Mechelen equalizer for a 2-2 draw on Saturday night.

The US international worked the full route in central defense for the Sclessin hosts, who fell behind to a fourth minute Koen Persoons blast from the top of the area.

Four minutes later, Igor De Camargo missed a great chance to equalize, booting over a splendid Axel Witsel feed from close range.

Mechelen netminder Kevin Kempeneer did well to turn away Steven Defour in the 11th minute, then came up big on a pair of Witsel attempts.

He would, however, be no match for Defour on the half hour as the Standard skipper lifted his free kick over the wall and into the top corner.

The hosts would break on top just after the break, with Dieumerci Mbokani dribbling a De Camargo flick in close for the lead goal.

The advantage wouldn't lat a minute, though, as Persoons netted his second from another Nong assist.

After Mbokani was bowled over in the area by Jonas Ivens, Milan Jovanovic could have put Standard back in front from the spot in the 55th minute, but Kempeneer guessed right to make the stop.

Onyewu and Standard will now head to Mouscron on Friday night.

Scoring
KVM - Koen Persoons 1 (Aloys Nong) 4'
SL - Steven Defour 1 30'
SL - Dieumerci Mbokani 5 (Igor De Camargo) 49'
KVM - Koen Persoons 2 (Aloys Nong) 50'

Line-ups
SL - Rorys Aragon Espinoza; Dante Bonfim Costa, Oguchi Onyewu, Steven Defour, Marcos Camozatto, Milan Jovanovic (Salim Toama 66'), Fred (Ali Lukunku 80'), Marouane Fellaini, Axel Witsel, Dieumerci Mbokani, Igor De Camargo

KVM - Kevin Kempeneer; Maxime Biset, Kenny van Hoevelen (Wesley Vanbelle 46'), Jonas Ivens, Jeroen Mellemans, Kevin Geudens, Nana Asare, Koen Persoons, Krsitof Imschoot (Anton Dunković 80'), Kenneth van Goethem, Aloys Nong (Bjorn Vleminckx 82')

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ON THE SIDELINE
Greg Dalby did not suit up as Charleroi scored a 2-1 win at FC Brussels.