premier league
NEC drew against FC Twente. The exciting match for third place ended in 1-1. That is good news for Feyenoord and Ajax in the battle for European tickets.
The draw increased Feyenoord’s lead over number 3 NEC to three points. Ajax takes over 4th place and FC Twente is virtually in the play-offs for European football on goal difference.
The exciting battle for European tickets made the match between FC Twente and NEC on Saturday evening in the Grolsch Veste a true Premier League cracker. This was noticeable in the way the Tukkers started the match. Within 20 seconds, John van de Brom’s team had already fired two shots.
That energy continued and Twente thundered over NEC. Sam Lammers’ first goal was disallowed for offside, but there was no objection to Sondre Ørjasæter’s goal in the 10th minute. Face to face with goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz, he deservedly made it 1-0.
Twente continued the fierce and dominant play until the 37th minute, when NEC had its first big chance. Philippe Sandler opened up in midfield and Bryan Linssen had no defender nearby. The experienced striker ran away between the central defenders, received the ball perfectly from Sandler and made it 1-1 out of nowhere.
It turned out to be a turning point in the match. NEC took over the initiative and stormed FC Twente’s goal. It resulted in piles of chances, especially in the second half. With thirteen shots after the break, Unnerstall was continuously under fire, while the German goalkeeper held up well. Tjaronn Chery passed him in the 84th minute, but hit the post.
However, the last word belonged to the NEC goalkeeper. In the last minute of injury time, Twente had a huge chance from a corner kick. Robin Pröpper headed hard towards the corner, but Crettaz made one of the saves of the season to save the point for NEC.
It ensured that NEC remains in third place with three games to play. Twente, which still has to play against AZ and PSV, will have a lot of difficulty avoiding the play-offs.
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What a rescue!
Pröpper seems to make it 2-1! The defender heads the ball from the corner towards the long corner. Half the stadium cheers, but Crettaz stretches and saves the point for NEC.
One more corner for FC Twente. The final word belongs to the home team.
Tjaronn Chery is replaced by Brayann Pereira
3 minutes of injury time left
Daan Rots is replaced by Arno Verschueren
Bryan Linssen is replaced by Danilo
Pole!
Things are not going well for NEC: Chery breaks through after a slip by Lemkin. Half falling, Chery gets the ball towards the top corner, but the shot explodes on the post.
Unnerstall again!
A great opportunity for Ouiassa. He plays Rots out, runs along the back line towards the goal and hits Unnerstall’s feet. The German goalkeeper keeps Twente in the match.
NEC already fired 11 shots in the second half. Twente only got one, while they shot on target 11 times in the first half.
Dasa of distance
Another attempt from NEC. Dasa shoots high from a great distance. The audience of Twente starts to grumble a bit. They see the chances of victory becoming smaller, while things went so well in the first half hour.
Yellow card for Mats Rots
Kristian Hlynsson is replaced by Mathias Kjølø
Thomas van den Belt is replaced by Daouda Weidmann
Unnerstall saves!
Sandler heads towards goal from a corner kick. Unnerstall extends his right arm and taps the ball out of the corner.
Dasa tries
Dasa also contributes. He enters the penalty area, cuts inside and shoots towards goal. His shot is also blocked.
NEC is increasing the pressure
Unnerstall’s goal is attacked from all sides. Chery gets the best chance and sees his shot blocked from close range.
Chery!
The game starts to wave more and more up and down. It can go either way. Now Chery tries it from afar. The NEC player aims just wide.
Bram Nuytinck is replaced by Dirk Proper
Ruud Nijstad is replaced by Robin Pröpper
Sam Lammers is replaced by Ricky van Wolfswinkel
Premier league standings
