Former Spurs decides crazy three-horse title race with a belter in the 94th minute
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Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 05.06.23. | 11:37
Toby Alderweireld fires a spectacular missile deep into stoppage time to seal one of the most exciting battles for silverware in history
Ex-Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld scored a stoppage-time equaliser to hand Royal Antwerp the Belgian title in a dramatic end to the season on Sunday, their first in 66 years!
In the dying minutes of a three-horse title race, Union Saint-Gilloise and Genk were set to become league champions, as the dramatic see-saw changed sides during the last 90 minutes on several occasions.
Incredibly proud to lift the league title after a long season of hard work and dedication by this amazing group. The fans, the city and every individual team and staff member of this great club deserve this success so much ❤️.
— Toby Alderweireld (@AlderweireldTob) June 5, 2023
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐲𝐨𝐮, 𝐀𝐧𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐩 🏆🏆 pic.twitter.com/mllMAVK53r
However, Antwerp's veteran Alderweireld struck in the 94th minute to make it 2-2 at Genk. That sparked wild celebrations as it was enough to hand his hometown club their first title since the 1956-57 season.
"I have no words for this," said Alderweireld, 34, who joined Antwerp from Qatari side Al-Duhail last summer.
"Everyone wrote us off, we fought so hard for this. Everyone was against us, but we did it today."
The 94th minute goal that Toby Alderweireld scored to win the title for his hometown club, Royal Antwerp. 😮💨🇧🇪
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) June 4, 2023
It was a beauty. 🥵
pic.twitter.com/mVk9iGH6v8
Antwerp finished the season one point ahead of Genk and Union, who were set to become Belgian champions for the first time in 88 years, having only ended a 48-year absence from the top flight in 2021.
However, Japanese striker Shion Homma equalised against Union for an under-strength Brugge to thrust Genk into pole position.
Toby Alderweireld's injury-time equaliser at Genk coupled with Union SG failing to beat Club Brugge means Antwerp, led by Mark van Bommel, win their first Belgian championship since 1957.
— Mohamed Moallim (@iammoallim) June 4, 2023
A crazy final day which saw the lead exchange hands several times. pic.twitter.com/GLtKO4gS44
At Genk, in the fourth of the added time, Alderweireld fired into the top corner from 20 yards to stun the home crowd, with coach Mark van Bommel and some of his staff charging onto the field to celebrate as the former Belgium defender ran the length of the field in front of the Antwerp fans.
