WATCH: Former Spurs defender Toby Alderweireld's last-minute heroics clinch first Belgian title for Royal Antwerp in 66 years

Belgian Fans

The Belgian league concluded in dramatic fashion on the weekend Credit: Peter Fitzpatrick (ETPhotos)

In an unforgettable finale to the Belgian football season, former Tottenham Hotspur defender Toby Alderweireld landed a last-ditch equalizer, securing Royal Antwerp's first league title in 66 years. 

This stoppage-time goal unfolded against a rapidly shifting backdrop where Racing Genk and Union Saint-Gilloise were poised to grasp the championship at different junctures.

The climactic final moments of the three-way title chase had Alderweireld, a native of Antwerp, striking the net in the 94th minute against Genk, resulting in a 2-2 draw.

This eleventh-hour performance detonated a joyous eruption from the Antwerp camp, signifying the end of their long-awaited championship drought.

Alderweireld, who moved back to his hometown club the previous summer, delivered his equalizer with a powerful shot from outside the box.

This momentous feat was set up by a well-executed long ball, which was neatly laid off to him, enabling the iconic shot that thundered into the top left corner.

Following his spectacular goal, an ecstatic Alderweireld sprinted the length of the field towards the Antwerp fans, pursued by an equally thrilled horde of teammates and coaches. This jubilant outburst culminated in a frenzy of celebrations, marking a historic moment for the club.

This riveting end to the season, which saw the championship destiny alter thrice within five minutes, placed Antwerp a solitary point ahead of Genk and Union Saint-Gilloise.

Consequently, Royal Antwerp triumphantly clinched the Jupiler Pro League title, the pinnacle of Belgian football, after a 66-year hiatus.

How the Belgian League works

Certainly, the Belgian Jupiler Pro League has a rather unique format which adds an extra layer of complexity to the competition.

The regular season consists of 18 teams, and each team plays against all other teams twice, once at home and once away, totaling 34 matches. The teams accumulate points based on standard football rules: three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. This regular season generally runs from late July or early August to late February or early March of the following year.

At the conclusion of these 34 matches, the league splits into two groups for the "Championship Playoff" and the "Europa League Playoff". The top four teams from the regular season enter the Championship Playoff, where they carry over half of their regular-season points (rounded up) and play each other twice more. The team that finishes with the most points at the end of these six additional matches wins the Jupiler Pro League title and secures a spot in the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, teams ranked fifth to eighth at the end of the regular season compete in the Conference League Playoff.

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