Standard Liège kept their unbeaten run intact with a 2-0 win over RAA La Louvière in the Jupiler Pro League's third round at Stade Maurice Dufrasne. The hosts had already drawn twice in their opening fixtures before this victory, while the visitors carried just one point from four games. By then, Standard Liège sat seventh on eight points and La Louvière languished fifteenth on one.
Yllan Okou received the first yellow card in the 34th minute for the away side, and Alexis Trouillet added another shortly after the break. The match stayed tight until the 68th minute when S. Drammeh broke the deadlock. And here's the thing — Standard Liège had created three big chances but needed patience to find the opening.
Drammeh struck again five minutes later to put the result beyond doubt. La Louvière responded by bringing on A. Tajaouart in the 69th minute, but the visitors could not convert their own three big chances. The hosts stretched the back line with 128 attacks against 115, though neither side could find a third goal.
La Louvière's night grew worse in stoppage time. Okou picked up his second yellow in the 90+1 minute and was sent off, leaving the visitors to finish with ten men. Standard Liège made several changes in the final quarter, bringing on H. Lawrence, D. Eckert, T. Lutonda, E. Filet, M. Wade, A. Trouillet, B. Nguene, D. Lamego, and R. Touzghar across the substitutions.
The statistics tell a familiar story. Standard Liège controlled 64 per cent of possession and completed 467 passes, while La Louvière managed 222. The hosts registered 10 shots on target and 6 off target, but only converted two. The visitors were more accurate with 38 per cent of their shots on target, yet could not find the net.
Standard Liège now have a comfortable margin above the relegation zone, while La Louvière's single point from four games suggests a lengthy season ahead. The red card to Okou will not help their case, and the visitors will need to regroup quickly for the next round.