Promise David and Ousseynou Niang, who only recently played in Estonia and Latvia, were central figures as Union Saint-Gilloise marked their Champions League debut with a 3–1 win at PSV. David scored the club’s first goal in the competition from the penalty spot, while Niang controlled midfield for 90 minutes in a historic night for the Belgian champions.
Union Saint-Gilloise announced themselves on the Champions League stage with a 3–1 win away to PSV Eindhoven – and it was two players with Baltic background who stood out.
Promise David, who only left Estonia’s Nõmme Kalju in February with 30 first team goals in 44 games under his belt, scored Union’s first-ever Champions League goal in the ninth minute, dispatching a penalty after Christian Burgess was fouled by Ricardo Pepi. In addition to the personal and club milestone, this also happened to be the first goal of the 2025/2026 Champions League campaign. The 22-year-old Canadian forward, prolific during his spell in Tallinn, led the line for 67 minutes and caused constant problems in the air before being withdrawn.
Alongside him in the spotlight was Ousseynou Niang, a midfielder who made the switch from Riga FC to Belgium in April 2024. The Senegalese anchored Union’s midfield for the full 90 minutes, breaking up play and linking attacks as the Belgian champions frustrated PSV and hit them on the break.
Anouar Ait El Hadj and Kevin Mac Allister added further goals for Union before Ruben van Bommel’s late strike offered little consolation to the Dutch side.
Union return to Belgian league action against Genk this weekend before hosting Newcastle United in their Champions League home opener on October 1.
