The Belgian men’s playoff picture was only fully painted in the very last seconds of the regular season with Gantoise and Waterloo Ducks getting over the line ahead of Braxgata.
Brax looked to be cruising to the final four when they built a 2-0 lead over bottom of the table White Star. But a pair of goals from Swiss international Loris Grandchamp – the last coming in the final minute – meant a 2-2 draw.
It denied them the win they needed which would have confirmed a playoff place. It allowed both Gantoise and Waterloo to overtake them on goal difference with all three sides level on 38 points.
For Gantoise, they survived a scare as they fell 2-0 behind to Uccle in the first 11 minutes but fought back to win 6-2. They were the side to ultimately profit from the favour elsewhere and finish in fourth place, keeping alive their hopes of retaining the national title.
Waterloo also had to come back from a goal down against Victory to get their result, winning 5-2 in the end with two goals each from Victor Charlet and Jeremy Wilbers.
Royal Léopold will meet Gantoise while Dragons face Waterloo in the final four.
On the women’s side, there was similar drama with Joanne Peeters final minute corner goal earning the WatDucks a place in the final four as they edged out Braxgata 4-3.
It saw them come back from 3-0 down for a famous outcome, earning fourth spot and a semi-final date with Gantoise.
Brax will still contest the semi-finals where they come up against Dragons who were 5-1 winners over Herakles in their final game of the regular season.
Those matches will be played over two legs with the first on Saturday and the reverse fixture on Sunday.
