Toby Alderweireld scores 94th minute goal to help Royal Antwerp win first league title since 1957

Toby Alderweireld fired in a stunning last-gasp goal to help Royal Antwerp win their first league title since 1957.

The former Tottenham defender – who joined his hometown club last summer – equalised in the 94th minute from outside the box as Antwerp rescued a 2-2 draw against title rivals Genk.

After a long ball was played forward, the ball was laid off for Alderweireld who rocketed in an effort into the top left corner, sparking wild celebrations among his teammates.

As he wheeled away, he ran the length of the pitch to where the Antwerp supporters were housed as he was chased by his teammates and the club’s coaching staff, sparking pandemonium among the group. 

In a dramatic conclusion to the season, the goal meant Antwerp edged out both Genk and Union Saint-Gilloise by just one point to win the Belgian league title (Jupiler Pro League) for the first time in 66 years.

Alderweireld smashed one in from outside the box that went right into the top left hand corner

Genk were leading the game 2-1 and if they had held on for the three points, they would have won the title.

Meanwhile, Union Saint-Gilloise were in pole position to become champions but collapsed late in the season, failing to win any of their final three games which included a 3-1 loss to outgoing champions Club Brugge on Sunday.

The defeat to Club Brugge was all the more dramatic given Union were 1-0 up on 89 minutes, before they conceded three quick-fire goals.

This meant that at 89 minutes Union were set to be crowned champions before conceding, with Genk then heading for the title until Alderweireld’s goal – meaning within five minutes of gametime there were three different teams in first place. 

The goal was Alderweireld’s seventh of the season with the 34-year-old – who departed Spurs in 2021 to join Qatari side Al-Duhail – emerging as a key man for Mark van Bommel’s side. 

Alderweireld joined the club on a three-year deal last July having always said he wanted to play for Antwerp at some point in his career after been born in the city.

He had never played domestic football in his home country, joining Ajax while he was a youngster, but fulfilled his promise and more by helping Antwerp to emerge victorious in the enthralling three-way title race.

The former Belgium international – who retired from international football after his nation’s dismal World Cup campaign – even has a tattoo of Antwerp’s cathedral on his arm. 

Antwerp will now play in the Champions League for the first time since the 1957-58 season – the year after they won that historic last league title.