Mathias Rasmussen became Belgian cup champion with Union Saint-Gilloise

Japan’s Koki Machida’s goal in overtime in the first half was the only one in the final against Royal Antwerp.

Union Saint-Gilloise has 11 league championships and two cup titles from before, but the previous league gold came in 1935 and the previous cup win in 1914.

Rasmussen played from the start as an inside runner. He was replaced in the 84th minute after a good session.

The goal that decided the match came after a corner kick in overtime in the first half. Gustaf Nilsson tried to poke the ball at the near post, but it instead hit Antwerp stopper Zeno Van Den Bosch and bounced to Machida, who from close range only needed to put his foot on it.

Kick-off in the second half was postponed due to pyrotechnics from Royal Antwerp fans who were smoking the pitch.

The Antwerp team’s best chances came from Jurgen Ekkelenkamp. He had a post hit midway through the first half, while abusing a free chance that came after an ugly foul by Christian Burgess in the 81st minute.

Finally, Rasmussen and his teammates could celebrate, in a good week for 26-year-old footballers from Lyngdal. On Tuesday, Julian Ryerson was ready for the Champions League final with Borussia Dortmund.