* Genk substitute Nwanganga grabs vital equaliser
* Title was unexpected says coach Vercauteren
* Genk and Standard into Champions League qualifiers
BRUSSELS, May 17 (Reuters) - Racing Genk won their third
Belgian title after snatching a 1-1 draw at home to rivals
Standard Liege thanks to an equaliser by substitute Kennedy
Nwanganga in the last match of the season on Tuesday.
Genk went into the game knowing a draw would be enough to
win the title but they allowed Standard to dominate possession
early on and the visitors opened the scoring.
Standard's French defender Eliaquim Mangala netted in
first-half stoppage time after Genk failed to clear a freekick.
The hosts picked up the tempo after the break but had to
wait until almost 10 minutes from time for Nigerian Nwanganga,
who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, to head home
from a corner.
Genk goalkeeper Thibaut Coutois then pulled off a couple of
crucial saves in the final minutes.
"This is an unexpected title," said Genk coach Franky
Vercauteren, who has also managed rivals Anderlecht and was
briefly in charge of Belgium.
"We really took a hit from their goal. At the break, I just
insisted that one goal for us would be enough. The players
understood the message. Kennedy proved decisive but Courtois
really saved us at the end."
Standard only narrowly sneaked into the end of season
playoffs and then won eight of their 10 playoff matches, drawing
the other two, but the title proved just beyond their grasp.
Genk and Liege finished the season level on 51 points.
After the regular season, each club's points were halved.
Liege had an odd number of points and benefited from a rounding
up of their tally for the start of the playoff matches.
Genk's total was not rounded up meaning if the two teams
were level in the table Genk were considered to be ahead.
Standard may still end the season with a trophy as they play
Westerlo in the Belgian Cup final on Saturday.
Standard and Genk have both qualified for the third
qualifying round of next season's Champions League.
* Title was unexpected says coach Vercauteren
* Genk and Standard into Champions League qualifiers
BRUSSELS, May 17 (Reuters) - Racing Genk won their third
Belgian title after snatching a 1-1 draw at home to rivals
Standard Liege thanks to an equaliser by substitute Kennedy
Nwanganga in the last match of the season on Tuesday.
Genk went into the game knowing a draw would be enough to
win the title but they allowed Standard to dominate possession
early on and the visitors opened the scoring.
Standard's French defender Eliaquim Mangala netted in
first-half stoppage time after Genk failed to clear a freekick.
The hosts picked up the tempo after the break but had to
wait until almost 10 minutes from time for Nigerian Nwanganga,
who had only been on the pitch for two minutes, to head home
from a corner.
Genk goalkeeper Thibaut Coutois then pulled off a couple of
crucial saves in the final minutes.
"This is an unexpected title," said Genk coach Franky
Vercauteren, who has also managed rivals Anderlecht and was
briefly in charge of Belgium.
"We really took a hit from their goal. At the break, I just
insisted that one goal for us would be enough. The players
understood the message. Kennedy proved decisive but Courtois
really saved us at the end."
Standard only narrowly sneaked into the end of season
playoffs and then won eight of their 10 playoff matches, drawing
the other two, but the title proved just beyond their grasp.
Genk and Liege finished the season level on 51 points.
After the regular season, each club's points were halved.
Liege had an odd number of points and benefited from a rounding
up of their tally for the start of the playoff matches.
Genk's total was not rounded up meaning if the two teams
were level in the table Genk were considered to be ahead.
Standard may still end the season with a trophy as they play
Westerlo in the Belgian Cup final on Saturday.
Standard and Genk have both qualified for the third
qualifying round of next season's Champions League.
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