Standard are champs again

May 2 2008 by Ian Carbis, South Wales Echo

IT’S been a long time coming, but Belgian sleeping giants Standard Liege have finally got something serious to shout about.

Cardiff City’s last-ever European opposition landed the title for the first time in 25 years with a thrilling 2-0 win over their fiercest rivals, second-placed Anderlecht.

What’s more, both goals were scored by former Anderlecht man Dieumerci Mbokani. The 22-year-old DR Congo striker is known as the “Drogba of Belgium” and some 30 clubs had scouts in the stands at Stade Sclessin for the title decider.

Goalkeeper Aragon Espinoza had his own way of celebrating the title.

The 25-year-old Ecuadorian promised to dive into the freezing Meuse river near their stadium if Standard won the crown.

He kept his side of the deal in front of a large crowd and some of his team-mates, before adding: “I’ll do it again if we’re champions next year.”