Royal Antwerp vs Union SG: Nigerian duo continue Royal Rumble for Belgian league title

Royal Antwerp were denied a chance to wrap up their first league title in 66 years after 10-man Royale Union Saint-Gilloise forced them to a share of the spoils at home.

Antwerp and Union SG played an entertaining 1-1 draw in the top-of-the-table clash at the Bosuilstadion Deurne on Sunday, with two of their Nigerian stars starting the game on the bench.

In their most important game in the race for the title in the Belgian first division, the Nigerian duo of Alhassan Yusuf and Victor Boniface were spectators on the bench.

Of the duo, only Boniface came on in the second half as Arthur Vermeereen earned the Royales a share of the spoils which means the league title will now be decided next weekend.

The clash kicked off with the hosts the most dominant of the teams on the day.

Antwerp started strongly and it did not take long for them to find the breakthrough courtesy of a superb goal.

Janssen struck an absolute peach of a goal from an excellent pass from Calvin Stengs in the 14th minute of the game.

Union SG hardly looked threatening going forward and just before the break, Antwerp almost doubled their advantage.

This time, Janssen almost repaid Stengs for his opener when he set him inside the box. However, the 24-year-old’s final effort was as good as the first goal with his shot disappointingly high and way off the mark.

In the second half, Union SG stepped it up and threatened early on but things went from bad to worse for the Royales when they were reduced to 10 men just before the hour mark.

Senne Lynen was shown a straight red card for a very cynical foul.

Six minutes after Boniface came on and 23 minutes after going a man down, Union SG stole a valuable point against the run of play.

Vermeereen the hero for the away side after his never-die attitude saw his effort inside the box needing two deflections before finding its way into the net.

And in added time, Antwerp again almost won it but were denied by an outstanding goalkeeping from Anthony Moris in goal for Union.