Standard Liège defender Oguchi Onyewu smashed home a header with three minutes to play to claim a 1-0 win over Mouscron that keeps the club on a collision course with their first Belgian crown in a quarter of a century.

The US defender, who went his usual 90 minutes, also had the game's first good chance, but he placed his header from a sixth minute corner kick directly into the arms of Frontaliers keeper Mark Volders.

The first half slowed to a seesaw midfield battle until Axel Witsel threatened in the 32nd minute. The winger dribbled in to the area to force a good save from Volders and Réginal Goreux scooped the rebound over.

Former Anderlecht star Walter Bassegio made an early second half bid for the visitors, only to place his corner kick header over.

The action continued to bog down in the second half, with chances few and far between until late.

In the 79th minute, Mouscroun squandered a pair of massive opening to break the deadlock. First, sub Bertin Tomou fired a rebound directly at Standard keeper Rorys Espinoza, and then Jonathan Walasiak missed the net on a breakaway.

As is so often the case, profligacy was punished as Standard finally got the goal they were looking for with scant moments left on the clock. Jovanovic served up a tempting free kick and Onyewu gobbled it up, snapping the winner in off Tomou's arm (video clip, courtesy of Belgacom/Standard Liège).

Les Rouches have a short turnaround this week as they must hit the road to Lokeren on Friday night.

Scoring
SL - Oguchi Onyewu 2 (Milan Jovanovic) 87'

Line-ups
SL - Rorys Aragon Espinoza; Dante Costa, Marcos Camozzato, Mulemo Landry, Oguchi Onyewu, Réginal Goreux (Igor De Camargo 72'), Axel Witsel, Marouane Fellaini, Steven Defour (Marco Ingrao 81'), Dieumerci Mbokani, Milan Jovanovic (Siramana Dembele 90')

REM - Mark Volders; Jeremy Sapina, Daan Van Gijseghem, Gonzague Vandooren (Jeremy Huyghebaert 62'), Walter Baseggio, Bastien Chantry, Steve Dugardein, Idir Ouali (Bertin Tomou 74'), Mustapha Oussalah, Jonathan Walasiak (Alin Stoica 88'), Adnan Custovic

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ON THE SIDELINE
Greg Dalby did not dress as Charleroi scored a 4-2 win at Dender.