Standard end drought for Belgian glory

Two goals from Dieumerci Mbokani Bezua gave R. Standard de Liège a 2-0 win at home against RSC Anderlecht and secured the Belgian title for the first time in 25 years.

Club Brugge held
Standard's win was one of two results that had to occur for the title triumph to be confirmed on Sunday and their victory, coupled with Club Brugge KV's 0-0 draw at KAA Gent, transpired to decide the Eerste Klasse for this season. Mbokani's second-half double sent unbeaten Standard ten points clear of their two chasers with just three games remaining.

Strikers return
Standard were knocked out of the Belgian Cup 4-0 by Gent in the week but coach Michel Preud'homme was able to name his strongest side for Sunday's match, with strikers Mbokani and Milan Jovanović returning from suspension and injury. After the presentation of the golden boot award for Belgian Player of the Year to Standard captain Steven Defour, and a moment of silence in remembrance of the passing away of Anderlecht icon Constant Vanden Stock and Rosalie Mpenza, the mother of Emile and Mbo, the match got underway.

Schollen resistance
Anderlecht had the initiative in the first half at the sold out Stade Maurice Dufrasne, but Standard had good opportunities with away goalkeeper Davy Schollen saving Jovanović and Mbokani attempts, while at the other end Nicolás Frutos saw his header whistle just wide. In the second half, Standard took over the initiative and Mbokani broke the deadlock by heading in a cross from the right from Réginal Goreux after 54 minutes.

Decisive second
And Mbokani decided the match with 13 minutes remaining when Dante Bonfim headed a ball through to the 22-year-old striker and he lobbed Schollen for his 12th league goal of the season, one less than club top scorer Jovanović. The championship triumph was Standard's first since 1983 and their ninth in total.