Oguchi Onyewu and Standard Liège were held in a scoreless affair at Sint Truiden on Saturday night, but still managed to increase their tabletop cushion to five points.

The American center back went the distance for the Jupiler League pacesetters, as is customary.

Les Rouches nearly grabbed a ninth minute lead when Diemerci Mbokani combined with Igor De Camargo to spring his partner into the left channel, but the Brazilian's shot caught the wrong side of the near post.

In the 17th minute, stand-in Standard keeper did well to tip over a long distance dipper from Peter Delorge.

Onyewu had a chance to christen the scoresheet from a Salim Toama restart in the 24th minute, but nodded just over.

The US star also made in attack impact near the hour, surging forward on the ball to rip a rasping drive that would sail inches wide.

The match then turned into the Espinoza show as the away netminder turned away fine efforts from Marc Hendrikx, Timothy Dreesen and Ashley Hartog in the span of seven minutes to preserve the draw.

With lead chasers Anderlecht falling 1-0 at home to a Greg Dalby-less Charleroi, Standard will welcome UEFA Cup foe Zenit St. Petersburg on Thursday with no less than a five-point league advantage.

Line-ups
SL - Rorys Aragon Espinoza; Marcos Cammozzato, Mohammed Sarr, Oguchi Onyewu, Costa Santos Bonfim Dante, Grégory Dufer (Siramana Dembele 67'), Marouane Fellaini, Axel Witsel, Salim Toama, Igor De Camargo (Ali Lukunku 74'), Dieumerci Mbokani

ST - Frank Boeckx; Timothy Dreesen (Francesco Carratta 87'), Nicky Hayen, Pieter-Jan Van Oudenhove, Egon Wisniowski, Kris Buvens (Sander Debroux 65'), Cephas Chimedza, Peter Delorge, Marc Hendrikx, Ashley Hartog (Adamo Coulibaly 71'), Asanda Sishuba