Antwerp win Belgian title for first time in 66 years

Toby Alderweireld has slammed home a stoppage time equaliser to hand Royal Antwerp the Belgian championship for the first time in 66 years.

It was a hugely dramatic conclusion to the season that ended with them edging out Racing Genk and Union Saint Gilloise in a three-way race.

Antwerp drew 2-2 at Racing Genk on Sunday to finish one point ahead of their opponents as Union Saint Gilloise, who were on course for a first title in 88 years, lost out in a dramatic conclusion to their last match at home to outgoing champions Club Brugge.

Antwerp looked out of the race with a minute left against Genk as they trailed 2-1 while Union were 1-0 up at home to Brugge but a wild turn of events in the last two championship play-off matches turned the title race on its head.

Former Belgium defender Alderweireld’s stunning equaliser combined with a sudden implosion at Union, who let in three goals at the death to lose their game, made Antwerp champions.

As long as Union were winning and Antwerp were behind, the title was headed to the Brussels-based club, who last won the championship in 1935 and only returned to the top-flight last season after a 48-year absence.

But Union’s hopes ended when Japanese striker Shion Homma equalised for an under-strength Brugge in the 89th minute, which suddenly thrust Genk into pole position.

Union went on to concede two more goals in stoppage time and lose 3-1 in a most dramatic reversal of fortunes.

Genk, who only had an outside chance of the title before play began, had to hold onto their lead to win the title but Alderweireld’s powerful shot from just inside the area in the fifth minute of added time handed it to Antwerp instead.

They finished on 47 points and will compete in the Champions League – their first European Cup campaign since losing to Real Madrid in the first round in the 1957-58 competition.

Genk finished second ahead of Union with both on 46 points.

Antwerp, coached by former Dutch international Marc van Bommel, could have won the title last weekend, needing victory at home in their penultimate game with Union but conceded a late equaliser to let the chance slip in front of stunned supporters.

“I have no words for this,” a visibly emotional Alderweireld told Belgian television after his heroics.

“Everyone wrote us off, we fought so hard for this. Everyone was against us, but we did it today.”