Soccer-Union Saint-Gilloise end 110-year wait for Belgian Cup success

Antwerp, who did the league and cup double last season, might have had an equaliser in the last 10 minutes when Jurgen Ekkelenkamp won possession in the opposing box but his effort went across the face of goal amid some desperate defending. Mohamed Amoura could have scored a second for Union on the counter attack in second-half stoppage time but fired wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Union Saint-Gilloise ended a 110-year wait to win the Belgian Cup as Koki Machida’s goal earned them a 1-0 victory over holders Royal Antwerp in the final in Brussels on Thursday. Japan international Machida stabbed home a flick from a corner in the last minute of the first half as Union won the trophy for the first time since 1914.

The match was briefly halted at the start of the second half when the referee warned Antwerp supporters, via the stadium announcer, that he would take the players off the pitch if they persisted in setting off flares. Antwerp, who did the league and cup double last season, might have had an equaliser in the last 10 minutes when Jurgen Ekkelenkamp won possession in the opposing box but his effort went across the face of goal amid some desperate defending.

Mohamed Amoura could have scored a second for Union on the counter attack in second-half stoppage time but fired wide with only the goalkeeper to beat. Union have revived their fortunes over the last three seasons after decades in the doldrums. They are also bidding for league success this season, having won the last of their 11 league titles in 1935.

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