and now the KNVB Beker
By: Tucker |
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With their spot in the Champions League all ready assured de Tukkers completed the Eredivisie season with a tepid run-out 1-0 loss to Ajax. The match definitely was lacking in excitement as both sides fate was decided before the match and despite Steve McClaren’s claims the match would be played full out, it definitely had the look and feel of a friendly including the requisite empty seats in the stands. With Ajax in control of the match Urby Emanuelson’s free-kick from just outside the area hit the back of the net on the hour for the matches lone goal.
With the year-end anti-climatic match complete, Twente readies for the KNVB Beker final against Heerenveen next Sunday.
Category: Team News
Twente wins spot in Champions League
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Twente secured a Champions League spot with a 3-0 defeat of AZ. The victory guarantees Steve McClaren’s side a second place finish as they head in the season-ending match against Ajax with the KNVB Beker final later in the month.
Scoring advances were exclusive to Twente in first forty-five minutes as AZ looked far from the club that dominated the Eredivisie this year. However two minutes into the new half the ageless Kenneth Perez found the back of the net with a curling free-kick from twenty-five metres to the top left corner to make it 1-0 forTwente. On the hour Theo Janssen’s corner from the left was headed back in the box by Douglas before Peter Wisgerhof pounded the ball in for a 2-0 lead. A minute later AZ was down a man as Gill Swerts was shown a straight red-card for his challenge of Eljero Elia. AZ should brought the match to within one a few minutes later but Ari turned is close-range effort over the crossbar. Finally with twelve minutes remaining Blaise Kufo supplied Eljero Elia the ball on the left and after creating some space, sent the ball in from twelve metres for the 3-0 win.
Category: Team NewsTwente holds second-place after draw with Heerenveen
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Twente maintained their second-place position by the narrowest of margins as they played Heerenveen to a 1-1 draw.
With both sides meeting in next months KNVB Beker final it seemed that their respective managers Steve McClaren and Trond Sollied were reluctant to show much of their tactical plan for the big day. Excluding a few early chances the majority of the opening half was a box to box encounter and defending was letter perfect. However with thirteen minutes left Heerenveen’s play-maker extraordinaire Danijel Pranjić corner was turned in by Paulo Henrique after De Tukkers ‘keeper Sander Boschker was lost coming out to defend. However with a minute left Blaise Kufo was fouled during a challenge and a free-kick awarded. Theo Janssen lined his effort up and from twenty-five metres drove the ball to the far left corner to square the match at one.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers head to KNVB Beker final
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De Tukkers incredible season continued as they defeated NAC Breda 3-1 to win a spot in the KNVB Beker final.
NAC took the lead midway of the opening half as Anthony Lurling sent Martijn Reuser’s provision in from the edge of the area. Twente brought the match level eight minutes into the new half as Peter Wisgerhof’s chip was volleyed in by Theo Janssen. With twelve minutes remaining Twente took the lead as Theo Janssen’s free-kick into the box bounded loose to Romano Denneboom who sent the ball in. With three minutes remaining Eljero Elia provided a Blaise Nkufo a well weighted through ball with the captain sending the ball in from a tight angle to the right for the final score.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers lose late to Feyenoord
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De Kuip once again proved to be Twente’s undoing as they lost 1-0. Throughout the match Kenneth Perez created problems for Feyenoord with deadly precision on set-pieces and open play. Twenty minutes in he struck the woodwork on a free-kick and consistently put Eljero Elia and Marko Arnautović in position to score, although both were unable to finish the task. Just before the break Blaise Kufo’s effort somehow escaped going-in and Feyenoord was fortunate to go the break even. The theme continued along the same lines after the break but at the seventy-sixth minute Diego Biseswar was brought down by Douglas in the area and a penalty awarded. Roy Makaay converted and Feyenoord had the shock 1-0 lead. As time ticked down chances of recovering were limited as both Cheikh Tiote and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were sent off, thus adding to the misery of the loss and will now miss next Saturday’s match against Heerenveen.
Category: Team NewsTwente defeats Roda JC
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Twente continued to put pressure on Ajax for the Champions League spot as the defeated Roda JC 4-2 at Arke Stadion.
Despite entering the match without the services of Ronnie Stam, Sander Boschker and captain Blaise Nkufo de Tukkers took the lead seventeen minutes in as Kenneth Perez dealt the ball who powered the ball past Roda ‘keeper Bram Castro. The lead last only eight minutes as Laurent Delorge sent in Ruud Vormer’s cross. The visitors were quickly squashed before the break with two more strikes, each via Kenneth Perez’s corner. With ten minutes remaining in the half Douglas headed in the veteran’s corner only to have the margin doubled eight minutes later as Serbian international Slobodan Rajković did the same. After the break Roda were more of the aggressor but still lacked the final piece to the puzzle. With sixteen minutes remaining Twente increased its lead as Austria’s Marko Arnautović crossed to Eljero Elia for a close range goal. Sekou Cissé brought a goal back for Roda four minutes later as he struck from eight metres but it was too little, too late as Twente won 4-2.
Steve McClaren’s side now turn to a massive four match finale of the Eredivisie as they face Feyenoord, Heerenveen, AZ and Ajax in successive weeks.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers play NEC to 1-1 draw
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Twente failed to keep pace with AZ and they were held to a 1-1 draw against N.E.C. in Nijmegen.
Marko Arnautović gave Twente the lead somewhat haphazardly as Kenneth Perez drive from a central position inadvertently deflected off the Austrian international twenty-three minutes after the start. The lead should have been doubled a few minutes later but Eljero Elia effort was denied and Arnautović sent the rebound over the cross-bar. Continuing like they were headed for the win, Eljero Elia sent the ball into the net with nineteen minutes remaining but the goal was pulled back as offside. However N.E.C. brought the match even with twelve minutes remaining as John Goossens powerfully drove the ball into the top right corner from a long distance lead up by the play of Saidi Ntibazonkiza and Bas Sibum.
In truth this was match featured some of dirtiest play you’ll find anywhere starting with Lorenzo Davids two footed attack seven minutes-in that is deserving on a long term suspension. By the referee not dealing with this immediately the match was way out of hand and there was a lot of extra contact away from the ball. With three minutes remaining Youssef El Akchaoui completed a very low class approach as he shoved Romano Denneboom into the players bench, earning a red card.
Twente returns home to play Roda JC next week as they continue on their plan for a berth in next years Champions League.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers to challenge AZ
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With only six matches remaining in the Eredivisie Twente continue their push for the Champions League as they face N.E.C. in Nijmegen.
For Twente, the arrival of Steve McClaren has been a unequivocal success. The much maligned former head of England has taken the Enschede side to within reach of the championship and the height of European competition.
The former Middlesbrough expressed his pleasure of life and coaching in the Netherlands in media giant Voetbal International:
“I don’t miss England. I’m having a great time here. I go to work with pleasure and have no problems with the press. I love this culture.”
He further added his respect for club chairman Joop Munsterman:
“He radiates ambition in everything he does, but he also does what he says he will. This is a quality I haven’t seen in many board members in the football world.”
However in returning to action the manager will have his work cut out for him with a number of injuries to deal with as well as questionable availability for those who were in international action. Lesley Nahrwold and Dario Vujicevic have been called up from Jong FC Twente as Blaise N’Kufo is suspended and Sander Boschker, Ronnie Stam and Patrick Gerritsen are all out injured. In addition to the list is a virtual reprint of a squad list returning from international play last night including Edson Braafheid, Wout Brama, Eljero Elia, Theo Janssen, Nikolay Mihaylov and Marko Arnautović. Each are expected to be available but it is far from being an absolute certainty as Twente looks to close the gap on AZ.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers close gap on AZ
By: Tucker | 1 Comment
Twente closed the gap on AZ with a comfortable 2-1 victory over FC Groningen at Arke Stadion. With the three points Twente ease within nine points of AZ as they head into the final six matches of the Eredivisie season.
Visiting Groningen, who have hopes for a Europa League spot, had their backs against the wall early as they played a man down from the twelfth minute when Andreas Granqvist was sent off with a straight red-card for a handball. Prior to the ruling Twente controlled the run of play and the match had primarily been played in the Groningen half with their ‘keeper Luciano coming to the rescue on a few occasions. With eleven minutes remaining for the break Blaise Kufo’s creativity provided Eljero Elia a scoring chance with his effort taking an impossible to defend deflection into the net. The only downside for Twente was an injury to Ronnie Stam just before the half with him needing to be replaced by Romano Denneboom. At the restart the “Tukkers” continued to dominate and only Luciano held back further scoring. Finally with eighteen minutes remaining Twente found its insurance goal as Kenneth Perez provided Peter Wisgerhof to redirect in. With the match sealed off Blaise Kufo unfortunately received a yellow-card with two minutes left and is now out of the upcoming match against NEC in Nijmegen. A late consolation goal by Marcus Berg brought the match to 2-1 final and continues the great run by Steve McClaren’s Twente.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers continue on path to Europe
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Twente continued on the path to Champions League with a 2-0 win over Willem II. While the opposition put on a strong fight in front of their home fans Twente continued its impressive run unbeaten run taking the lead early. After an early effort went off course, Twente took the 1-0 lead ten minutes after the opening whistle via the creativity of Kenneth Perez who crossed to Blaise Kufo for the finish. The one goal margin proved to be enough although Willem II pressed the most out of Twente goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov who was starting in place of Sander Boschker. Finally with six minutes remaining Austrian international Marko Arnautović once again added his name to the score-sheet as he drove Eljero Elia’s cross in from ten metres.
Heading into the final stretch run of seven remaining matches, Twente welcomes FC Groningen to Enschede next week with a four point advantage over second-place Heerenveen.
Category: Team News
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