Union Saint-Gilloise are the new Belgian First Division Champions. The Brussels club that is owned by the British businessman Tony Bloom won the championship after an impressive performance during the play-off. There Union took 28 points from 10 games leaving Club Brugge in 2nd place and KRC Genk in 3rd.
Since gaining promotion to the Jupilier Pro League Union in 2021 Union had twice come close winning the Championship. However, they were pipped at the post and this year despite starting the evening as leaders and playing the team that had been the flop of this year’s play-off AA Gent, no one at Union was counting their chickens before they had hatched.
Union took the lead on 11 minutes through Ivanovic and despite missing several chances to widen their lead during the first half the score remained 1-0 until just before half time. Then disaster struck for Union when AA Gent’s Andri Gudjohnsen scored an equaliser. Could another disappointment be on the cards?
However, with Club Brugge drawing 1-1 against Antwerp, Union were still virtual champions at the half time whistle. The first 22 minutes of the second half were a nail-biting affair. Would Club Brugge score and could Union score a second goal that would assure them of their first championship title in 90 years? The answer to the second question was yes. 2 goals from the Canadian Promise David on 68 and 75 minutes made for a final score of 3-1 to Union Saint-Gilloise.
The 12th Belgian League title in Union’s history was in the bag. In the stadium joyous fans invaded the pitch hoping to congratulate the players in person. Elsewhere, on the Van Meenenplein in Sint-Gillis several thousand fans that had been unable to attend the match at the stadium and had watched on a big screen celebrated long into the night.
The victory means that Union Saint-Gilloise have qualified directly for the Champions League. Second placed Club Brugge have a shot at the qualifying stage of the Champions League.