Royal Antwerp has won the Belgian Pro League in dramatic fashion thanks to a brilliant stoppage-time goal from former Tottenham defender Toby Alderweireld. The centre-back scored in the fourth minute of stoppage-time to secure Antwerp a 2-2 draw against Genk on Sunday, which was enough to see them come out on top by a single point. Alderweireld’s piledriver from the edge of the box flew into the top left-hand corner of the Genk net, sparking bedlam in the Antwerp camp.
Antwerp only needed a point to seal the title, but they looked set to lose when Bryan Heynen put Genk 2-1 up on 75 minutes. However, Alderweireld’s moment of magic snatched the title away from Genk’s grasp and secured Antwerp their first league title since 1957.
Former Netherlands midfielder Mark van Bommel coached Antwerp to victory, and Alderweireld’s heroics ensured they held their nerve and clinched the title. The 34-year-old defender enjoyed a successful six-year spell at Tottenham, but he failed to win any silverware during his time in north London.
Alderweireld is the latest former Tottenham player to leave the club and win a trophy elsewhere, with Erik Lamela winning the Europa League with Sevilla and Spurs loanee Bryan Gil also collecting a winners’ medal.
In other football news, former Tottenham manager Nuno Espirito Santo guided Al Ittihad to the Saudi Pro League title ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s Al Nassr.