Solid Standard march on unbeaten after FCK win

R. Standard de Liège kept a clean sheet in their narrow victory at already eliminated FC København to ensure they go into the round of 32 with the best defence in the competition.

With Standard having guaranteed top spot in UEFA Europa League Group B and FCK eliminated on matchday five, the game was played at a slow tempo and the sides were only separated by Michy Batshuayi's first-half strike.

Both teams were restricted to long-range efforts until just past the half-hour when Nacho González clipped the ball into Batshuayi. The forward controlled with his chest, evaded the attentions of Sölvi Ottesen and rifled a low drive into the bottom left corner from the edge of the penalty area.

González and Batshuayi linked up again five minutes into second half only for the 18-year-old to be denied his second by a smart Johan Wiland save. The hosts were lifted by the introduction of half-time substitutes Martin Vingaard and Morten Nordstrand. The latter came close to an equaliser before the hour but his strike from distance rebounded back off the crossbar.

Dame N'Doye was having a greater influence on the game as the hosts threatened to score only the second goal of the campaign against Standard. Yet his header from a Bryan Oviedo cross brought the first and last save out of European debutant Anthony Moris in the Standard goal.

Gohi Bi Cyriac almost doubled the margin of victory six minutes from time but Standard's defence held firm to earn their fifth clean sheet and fourth victory of Group B.