Standard keep hopes alive

Mbokani: Opened the scoring

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Standard Liege retained their slim hopes of qualifying from Group H of the Champions League after a convincing 2-0 victory over Olympiakos.

The Greek side went into the match hoping secure a passage into the last 16 but were outfought in a hostile environment at the Stade Maurice Dufrasne.

Dieumerci Mbokani put Standard ahead after the visitors' defence failed to cut out a long ball, leaving the Congo striker clean through on goal.

Milan Jovanovic then added a second in the dying stages with a diving header after Mbokani's shot was saved by Antonios Nikopolidis.

The visitors did not seem intimidated by the raucous atmosphere inside early-on as Avraam Papadopoulos' dangerous cross was just cut out by the Standard defence.

Battle

The home side eventually came into the game but chances were few and far between during the opening 20 minutes as the two teams battled it out in midfield.

Veteran goalkeeper Nikopolidis almost gifted Standard a chance with a miscued clearance, but Mbokani was caught offside as the hosts looked to capitalise.

Mbokani then blazed the first real chance of the match over the bar after strike-partner Jovanovic had played it back to him in the area.

At the other end, goalkeeper Sinan Bolat dived to touch a seemingly errant cross away from Raul Bravo, who had ghosted in at the far post.

Mbokani made no mistake with his second opportunity when a long ball from Eliaquim Mangala somehow beat the Olympiakos defence and the Congolese front-man slotted home.

Referee Nicola Rizzoli then waved away appeals for a penalty when Jovanovic went to ground in the area under a tackle from Michal Zewlakow.

Five minutes before half-time, Mehdi Carcela struck a fantastic left-footed volley that sailed beyond Nikopolidis but cannoned back off the crossbar.

Frustration

Moments later, Kostas Mitroglou came close to equalising for Olympiakos but his effort glanced the side-netting on its way past the post as the Greek side headed into the break 1-0 down.

Olympiakos came out fighting after the break, with Enzo Maresca going close with a diving header after Mitroglou had done well to cross from the right.

The visitors' best opportunity came shortly after the hour when Maresca sent in a perfect cross from the left but Olof Mellberg tamely stuck a close-range volley into the hands of Bolat.

Although they were enjoying the lion's share of possession, Olympiakos could not fashion another clear-cut opportunity, with Oscar Gonzalez's yellow card for diving adding to their frustration.

Standard almost stole a second against the run of play when Mangala caught Nikopolidis in no man's land from a Carcela corner, but his header bounced just wide of the post.

The result was put beyond doubt with two minutes left when Mbokani's shot was saved by Nikopolidis but Jovanovic acrobatically headed the rebound into an empty net.