Onyewu double sparks Standard

Two early goals from defender Oguchi Onyewu helped champions R. Standard de Liège to a 3-1 victory in the Belgian Super Cup and heaped further woe on RSC Anderlecht.

Early double
The Belgian Cup holders were still smarting from their surprise UEFA Champions League exit to FC BATE Borisov on Wednesday and their shock was evident as the United States defender Onyewu gave László Bölöni's side a two-goal cushion, first by deviating a corner from Salim Toama past goalkeeper Silvio Proto with his knee after 12 minutes then, six minutes later, heading in another corner from Toama.

European date
Matias Suarez narrowed the margin by converting a penalty after Onyewu had brought him down with 20 minutes to play but Benjamin Nicaise headed in the clinching goal from a Steven Defour free-kick late on to secure a third Super Cup triumph for the Liège side. Although Standard ended the match with ten men after Réginal Goreux was sent off after an altercation with Bart Goor in the last minute, the result was an ideal one ahead of their UEFA Champions League third qualifying round first leg at home to Liverpool FC on Wednesday.