In the 94th minute, Toby Alderweireld, a veteran of the Belgian game back at his hometown club Antwerp, delivered the coup de grace to opponents Genk and fellow title rivals Union SaintGilloise. His goal almost defied his team’s blue-collar style. With perfect timing, he steered his shot into the top left corner and the ball rippled the net with a crushing finality, signalling the end of a long 66-year wait: for the first time since 1957 Antwerp were champions of Belgium again.
Cue delirium. Alderweireld sprinted across the pitch towards the away fans, followed by coach Mark van Bommel, the rest of the team and staff members. Scenes of ecstasy were repeated at Antwerp’s Bosuilstadion where those without tickets had watched the match on big screens. In Brussels, the picturesque Joseph Marien Stadium was enveloped in a sense of delusion and incomprehension.
Football, Union supporters learned once again, is a cruel sport.
After all, this should have been Union’s day. All afternoon, there had been a crackle in the air in the narrow streets of Saint-Gilles. The local club, with deep roots in the fabric of Brussels football, were on the verge of winning the Belgian league crown for the first time since 1935. They had also reached the last eight of the Europa League, falling at the hands of Bayer Leverkusen in a season when Belgian clubs were confronted with the stark reality that the Europa Conference League was their new European home. Gent and Anderlecht featured in the quarter-finals of Europe’s new third-tier club competition.
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من World Soccer.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة August 2023 من World Soccer.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Going for Gold in Paris- There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
There are plenty of candidates vying for the Olympic gold medal in the women's football tournament this summer
Face to face - Tom Sainfiet- The final goal is to reach the World Cup and write history - The Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer
The well-travelled Belgian coach speaks to World Soccer after taking charge of the Philippines-his 11th international coaching role
Inter cruise to title number 20
Simone Inzaghi's Internazionale shrug off all challengers before sealing the Serie A title in style against their biggest rivals
HAT-TRICK HERO
Ademola Lookman wrote his name into European football's history books with a hat-trick in the Europa League final
GOING UP
The story of Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres' career has been one of upward trajectory - and there's plenty more to come from the Sporting superstar
Palau soldier on alone
The isolated Pacific nation faces a long and lonely battle to improve football on the island
Brazilian clubs eye Copa number six
As the Copa Libertadores group stage concludes, a sixth consecutive Brazilian winner is looking likely
AI Hilal sweep to another Saudi crown
The first edition of the Saudi Pro League's glamorous new era ends with a familiar title winner
Disasters brewing
There is still a long way to go in World Cup qualifying, but dysfunction reigns at Cameroon, Congo and Nigeria after four matchdays in the group stage
Second round of World Cup qualifying underway
Favourites perform largely as expected, yet Cayman Islands dominate the headlines