Heartbreak in Brussels once again for Anderlecht as Union St Gilloise claimed bragging rights in an all-capital Belgian Cup final that went the distance. For the second time in 12 months, the purple-and-white faithful watched their side come up short on the biggest domestic stage, falling to their city rivals in a dramatic extra-time battle.

The match started with a moment of controversy when Christian Burgess thought he'd put Union ahead with a well-placed header in the 15th minute. However, VAR intervened, ruling Kevin McAllister offside for interfering with play, and the goal was chalked off. The first half remained scoreless, with both sides trading blows but failing to create clear-cut chances in an evenly contested affair.

McAllister would make amends after the break, producing an excellent finish inside the box to give Union the lead. It looked like the game was slipping away from Anderlecht until Serbian teenager Mihajlo Cvetkovic stepped up with a moment of magic. Thorgan Hazard's free-kick was headed back across goal by Lucas Hey, and the young striker guided his header into the far corner to level the scores and send the final into extra time.

The additional period proved to be Anderlecht's undoing as their defence unravelled completely. Mohammed Fuseini restored Union's advantage just five minutes in with a clinical finish, and things went from bad to worse when Anderlecht pushed forward in desperation. Caught on the break, they allowed Adem Zorgane far too much time in the box, and the Algerian found Kevin Rodriguez to make it 3-1 in the 100th minute—a goal that effectively sealed the cup.

Union held firm against Anderlecht's late push, securing their second cup triumph in three seasons. The win sets them up perfectly for a massive league showdown against Club Brugge this weekend, a fixture that could well decide where the Belgian title ends up. For Anderlecht, it's back to the drawing board—and another year of cup heartache.