FC Groningen faced off against FC Twente on Sunday afternoon, suffering a disappointing 2-0 defeat at the hands of their opponents. The clash took place at FC Twente's home ground in Enschede, and the game marked a significant moment for FC Groningen's young talent, David van der Werff, who made his professional debut.
Throughout the match, FC Twente dominated possession and gameplay, laying the groundwork for their victory. The first half saw them take the lead with a goal from Bart van Rooij. The scoring came after a deflection off a Groningen defender left goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen wrong-footed, allowing Van Rooij’s shot to find the back of the net.
FC Groningen struggled to find their rhythm early on. Aside from Thom van Bergen's attempt just two minutes after kick-off, there were few dangerous moments for either side until the latter part of the first half. Groningen had the chance to equalize soon after going down, with Romano Postema narrowly missing when he struck the post after being set up beautifully by Van Bergen. Just as Van der Werff’s team worked to level the score, Twente’s Sam Lammers came close to doubling the lead but shot wide.
While FC Groningen attempted various counter-attacks, they found themselves on the back foot as the first half drew to a close. Goalkeeper Vaessen had to make several key saves to keep his team within one goal as they entered the half-time break trailing.
Coming out for the second half, it was evident FC Twente had taken control. Just ten minutes after the restart, Ricky van Wolfswinkel forced another save from Vaessen, and soon after, Sem Steijn displayed exceptional skill as he found space within the box and unleashed a powerful strike. The ball struck the underside of the crossbar and bounced down, doubling Twente's lead to 2-0.
After conceding the second goal, FC Groningen began to dominate possession. Coach Dick Lukkien made tactical adjustments, bringing on Brynjolfur Willumsson to add physical strength to the offensive side. There was renewed hope for the visiting fans when David van der Werff managed to get his debut and several chances followed, including one where Marvin Peersman almost put Groningen on the scoresheet but was flagged for offside.
David van der Werff, the face of the club's youth academy, also had his chance as the match neared its final whistle. He skillfully evaded the defenders, only to see his shot saved by Lars Unnerstall, who stretched to deny the young talent from making his mark.
Despite van der Werff’s late attempts and additional six minutes added time, FC Groningen could not find the net, and the match concluded with FC Twente sealing the victory at 2-0.
This loss sees FC Groningen now turning their attention to the TOTO KNVB Beker, where they face AZ on Wednesday evening at 21:00. After this cup match, Groningen continues their campaign against Heracles Almelo the following Saturday, also scheduled for 21:00. Fans eager to cheer on their team should note the first home game is set for January 12, 2025, against Almere City.
