By James Pendleton
FC Twente left it late against NEC to claim an opening day Eredivisie win at The Goffertstadion.
Sem Steijn’s 91st-minute volley edged a tight game to give Ron Jans’ side all three points.
The Dutch league season almost started spectacularly when in just the fifth minute, new NEC signing Oussama Tannane spotted Lars Unnerstall off his line from halfway. But the Moroccan’s effort swerved at the last second to zip past the post.
Encouraged by their strong start, the home team attempted another attack through Tannane, who ate up the ground before sliding Pedro Marques through. But Robin Pröpper of Twente successfully blocked his initial effort.
NEC was soon ploughing forward again with Marques, who drove into the Twente box before hitting the turf, but his appeals for a penalty were rightfully waived away by Danny Makkelie.
Tannane was enjoying a debut to remember and tested Unnerstall soon after, stinging the German’s palms from long range before chipping a delightful ball to the back post for Marques, but the 24-year-old couldn’t hit the target.
Jans knew changes had to be made at the break, hooking new arrival Michael Vlap and bringing on the 20-year-old Steijn to replace him. Twente initially stopped the flow of Nijmegen attacks and almost took the lead themselves, but Gijs Smal’s long-range effort flew narrowly wide of the upright.
It might be early days, but we got a contender for the most bizarre moment of the season when Denilho Cleonise’s cut-back caused chaos in the home box.
Lasse Schone did well to cut it out but dallied on the ball on the edge of his six-yard box, prompting Ricky Van Wolfswinkel to scythe the former Ajax man down and cause a ten-man scrap for possession. Rather comically, the ball eventually popped out to Joshua Brenet, but the right-back blazed the ball way over the bar.
The game headed for a stalemate, but on a rare second-half foray, forward NEC found themselves in when Tannane picked out a terrific long ball to Elayis Tavsan.
He brought it down well before powering into the box, selling Julio Pleguezuelo with a dummy to bring the ball onto his right, but on his weaker side, all Tavsan could do was fire the ball straight at Unnerstall, who stayed big to make the save.
Then in the dying embers, Twente scored the winning goal that their lacklustre performance hardly deserved.
Steijn and Brenet played a one-two on the edge of the area as the right-back scooped a delightfully lobbed ball towards the former Den Haag man.
He raced in behind to finish with a well-taken volley and stole all three points for Twente in the dying embers with only his second Eredivisie goal.
Twente is back in action on Thursday night as they take a 3-1 lead into the second leg of their Europa Conference League Qualifier against Cukaricki before hosting Fortuna Sittard at De Grolsch Veste on Sunday, while NEC will look to bounce back as they travel to newly promoted FC Volendam.
Lionel Messi’s agent refutes claims of Inter Miami stake purchase and a potential move
LAFC 2 – 1 Seattle Sounders – Bale and Chiellini Win on Home Debut for the Black and Gold
Summer 2022: A summer of the overhaul for Tottenham that should send fans, and opposition frenetic
How Man City could line up Erling Haaland and Kalvin Phillips with their current squad
An active transfer window to fire Sparta Rotterdam up on the Eredivisie table
Barcelona have made a significant stride forward with the signing of Jules Kounde
Chelsea Eyeing Villareal defender Pau Torres for a £50m Move: Good choice for Tuchel?
From Haaland’s double score to Ten Hag’s debut defeat- Here’s all from the first week of Premier League
Alex Telles ‘didn’t think twice’ before leaving Man United and joining Sevilla FC
Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid join race for RB Salzburg’s Benjamin Sesko
Nottingham Forest’s promotion, Arsenal’s win, Aston Villa’s defeat- all from the first week of Premier League
Sevilla fc winger Oussama Idrissi returns to dutch league for another season
Manchester City, Arsenal, and Aston Villa win big in the second week of the Premier League
From Fulham’s win to Tuchel and Conte’s public feud- all the drama from the second week of Premier League 2022
Grand Prix Badminton League 2022: Sharks & Bulls score thrilling wins, face-off with Wolves & Falcons confirmed
How is SL Benfica Academy so successful at producing and developing young talent
Why Brandon Vázquez should be in the USMNT squad for the World Cup in Qatar this winter
Sebastian Driussi, the striker who lifted Austin FC to unthinkable heights
Liverpool, Chelsea, Manchester City- big names that disappointed in the third week of the Premier League
Spurs, Crystal Palace, and Fulham win big in the third week of the Premier League
Real Salt Lake breaking new ground with their purchase of 18-year-old USYNT playmaker Diego Luna
LAFC midfielder José Cifuentes: Transfer target for Premier League's Brighton
Haaland scores a hat-trick; Liverpool thrash Bournemouth 9-0: All from the fourth week of Premier League
Punk-Moxley set for a rematch to claim AEW World Championship: AEW Dynamite Recap
Chelsea, Crystal Palace, and Aston Villa fail to impress in the fourth week of the Premier League
Anthony Gordon: Merseyside’s latest boy wonder on the verge of a breakthrough
City Win Big, Liverpool Squeak Through And Arsenal Win Again In Match Week Five Of The Premier League
Jesus Ferreira-Alan Velasco-Paul Arriola: Best attacking trio in the MLS?
DP Asia Cup 2022 Review- Pakistan vs Hong Kong: Pak wins big against Hong Kong
Manchester United, Chelsea, and Brentford win in the sixth week of the Premier League
Arsenal, Fulham, Leicester, and Southampton fail to impress in the sixth week of the Premier League
Carlos Alcaraz becomes the youngest US Open Champion after defeating Casper Ruud in the finale
Denis Bouanga: Will LAFC’s latest acquisition solidify the MLS Cup title for the team?
Aaron Hickey: The Golden Boy Nominee Ready To Light Up The Premier League
Brennan Johnson: The next superstar striker with the potential to play for big clubs
EPL Review: Haaland at it again, A sigh of relief for Gerrard, and Chaos at the City Ground
Comments