FC Twente has qualified for the final of the play-offs for European football on Thursday. With ten men, the team from Enschede fought past NEC in extra time: 3-2. In the final, Twente will face AZ.
FC Twente seemed on their way to an easy victory thanks to an early goal by Michal Sadílek, until Alec Van Hoorenbeeck received a red card just before half-time for a silly foul on Sontje Hansen. Van Hoorenbeeck brought Hansen down while he was one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
Twente had to continue with ten men in De Grolsch Veste and barely got into the game after half-time against NEC. The team from Nijmegen equalized through a beautiful goal by Kodai Sano, with the Japanese player’s rock-hard shot flying behind goalkeeper Przemyslaw Tyton.
Vito van Crooij made it 2-1 for NEC. Van Crooij’s goal seemed to be disallowed for offside, but the VAR intervened. Shortly after, Van Crooij carelessly gave the ball away, after which Sem Steijn shot in the 2-2 rebound.
A nerve-wracking final phase followed, in which NEC had the biggest chances. Bryan Linssen came close to the winning goal twice, but was denied by the post and the goalkeeper. Extra time was needed.
Substitute Taha Shoots Twente to Final
In extra time, things strangely went Twente’s way, as they made an impression against NEC with ten men. Substitute Younes Taha shot hard from inside the box. Immediately afterwards, NEC’s Calvin Verdonk seemed to make it 3-3, but the ball shattered on the post.
This ended NEC’s European dream, and Twente remains on course for their fourth consecutive European ticket. In the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 seasons, the team from Enschede played in the Conference League. This season, Twente reached the intermediate round of the Europa League.
To enter Europe, Twente must defeat AZ in the final, who were too strong for Heerenveen earlier in the evening with a 4-1 victory. The final will take place in Alkmaar on Sunday, because AZ finished highest in the regular competition. This gives the club the right to home advantage.