Royale Union Saint-Gilloise dominating Belgian football

[reamsofverse]

Dec 23, 2022 9:18:41 GMT legacyfan said:

Really interesting articles. I knew very little about them until yesterday when they fleeced me for two players (Boniface has been awful! for me) on Football Manager and then I saw this thread this morning.

Not really sure how I feel about the multi club system, obviously they are having great success at the moment but is it worth being essentially a feeder club. I'm not sure.

Edit: Just googled their stadium as Zenga suggested, a brilliant throwback. 

Reminds me of the former MTK stadium in Budapest that was used in Escape to Victory.

[legacyfan]

Had to google but yeah looks pretty much identical.

[reamsofverse]

Hope people saw Denis Undav's chip for Brighton's 6th goal against Wolves on Saturday! Know you know why I have been banging on about him for 12 months from his Union Saint-Gilloise days. A fabulous striker that will only get better.

[richmondse10exile]

Just read this thread from start to finish seeing as it popped up in the recents list (and I’m still relatively new on this forum).

Fascinating - and credit to reamsofverse for the shout for all to watch out for Undav.

[zenga]

Last day of the Belgian league and still 3 contenders:

1 - 46 - RFC Antwerp (+1 more win)
2 - 46 - Union St-Gilles
3 - 45 - KRC Genk
4 - 33 - Club Brugge

Half Time:

Genk - Antwerp 1-0
Union - Club Brugge 0-0

[zenga]

First minute of 2nd half Union scores 1-0 being virtual champions

As it stands

Genk - Antwerp 1-0
Union - Club Brugge 1-0

49 - Union St-Gilles
48 - KRC Genk
46 - RFC Antwerp (+1 more win)
33 - Club Brugge

[zenga]

As it stands

Genk - Antwerp 2-1
Union - Club Brugge 1-0

49 - Union St-Gilles
48 - KRC Genk
46 - RFC Antwerp (+1 more win)
33 - Club Brugge

[zenga]

Union concedes last minute goal

As it stands

Genk - Antwerp 2-1
Union - Club Brugge 1-1


48 - KRC Genk
47 - Union St-Gilles
46 - RFC Antwerp (+1 more win)
33 - Club Brugge

[zenga]

Union concedes another one in additional time

As it stands

Genk - Antwerp 2-1
Union - Club Brugge 1-2


48 - KRC Genk
46 - RFC Antwerp (+1 more win)
46 - Union St-Gilles
36 - Club Brugge

[reamsofverse]

You just beat me to it Zenga. More drama in Europe. Union on teh cusp of winning the title then concede in the 89th ans 90+3 to lead in Brussels. As things stand Genk are champions and Union fall to third. I'm gutted for them.

[zenga]

Unbelievable

Antwerp equalizes in Genk, and long VAR check going on in Union.
VAR check over, goal given to Brugge.
Antwerp Champion,

still 3 mins to go in Union.

[reamsofverse]

Brugge score a third in Brussels to end the Union dream but Antwerp eqialise at Genk in imjury time to nick the title from their hosts!

[zenga]

Insane, earlier this week there was a thread up with dramatic finishes of past seasons. This one deserves a place among the top.

All in all a good thing for Belgian football. Antwerp has invested a lot and their owner is a billionaire who has a personal rivalry with the owner of Club Brugges (he bought an old farm where club brugge wants to build a new stadium and refuses to sell it lol).

Union has the UK support / money coming in, ... in the end it might be for the best that they didnt win the league this year yet. Let them stay hungry for a while.

[zenga]

What Union St-Gilles keeps doing is nothing short of amazing. In the league they were miles ahead the entire year with almost a brand new team of outcasts, but they collapsed during the playoffs.

However they just won the Belgian Cup Final, beating Antwerp 1-0. Their first cup since 1914.

[reamsofverse]

My favourite Belgian Club. As you say, totally collapsed in the play-offs having almost run away with it during the regular season.

You won't win the league if you allow the likes of Club Brugge and Anderlecht a second chance to catch you.