De Tukkers end PSV’s hopes
By: Tucker |
Add Comments
As Blaise Kufo struck the ball into the net Sunday evening, the Twente had not only grabbed a 1-1 draw against PSV but they effectively ended the defending champions hopes for the Champions League. While thoughts of catching AZ are obviously out of the question, Twente is in control of its own Champions League destiny as they hold a three-part margin over third place Ajax.
With Cheik Tioté and Douglas in the starting eleven and Slobodan Rajković and Theo Janssen resigned to the bench, Twente were making a strong tactical statement and limited PSV’s attack. After an early handball by PSV’s Ola Toivonen somehow went unpunished the match was without a score till four minutes past the hour when Balázs Dzsudzsák beat Sander Boschker after a great run. Needing a goal Steve McClaren signaled to Theo Janssen to come for Tioté with eighteen minutes remaining and in the final ten minutes Marko Arnautović and Kenneth Perez came close on a few occasions. However with the defending champions clinging to hopes with a win, Blaise Kufo severed PSV’s chance in the final strike of the match as he sent in a rebound bringing the match even.
Category: Team News
De Tukkers head to KNVB Beker semi-finals
By: Tucker | Add Comments
Twente advanced to the semi-finals of the KNVB Beker with a stunning 1-0 victory over De Graafschap. De Graafschap’s defending was tough throughout the match and while Twente controlled the run of play they couldn’t find a way through often. With two minutes remaining in regulation time Kenneth Perez accepted Blaise N’Kufo through ball and drove the ball off the post from the edge of the area. In a extra time Sander Boschker saved the day holding back Rogier Meijer’s shot from twenty-five metres. However with the match looking like it is headed to the penalty shootout, Austrian international Marko Arnautović accepted Kenneth Perez’s pass and sent the ball in from point-blank range to give Twente the 1-0 win.
Photo Credit: FC Twente
Category: Team NewsTwente edge ADO Den Haag 1-0
By: Tucker | Add Comments
Twente edged ADO Den Haag 1-0 at Arke Stadion to maintain second-place in the Eredivisie nine points behind AZ.
The effects of the mid-week UEFA Cup match that went into extra time was obvious as Steve McClaren kept Kenneth Perez, Wout Brama and Slobodan Rajković out of the starting eleven with Theo Janssen, Youssouf Hersi and Peter Wisgerhof in their place. After Marko Arnautović’s effort eight minutes in was turned aside, Twente took the lead six minutes before the half-hour mark when Ronnie Stam’s cross was headed-in by Blaise N’Kufo. Up by one, ADO’s long ball game was handled Peter Wisgerhof and Douglas Franco and attempts going forward were limited till the break. At the hour ADO started to come alive first from Berry Powel’s drive turned aside by Sander Boschker and then Lex Immers close range header at the eighty-fourth minute. However each effort was lacking the needed touch and Twente hung onto the 1-0 win. Of special note, late in the match Nikita Rukavytsya was introduced for his debut run-out.
Photo credit: FC Twente (Frank Hillen)
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers now out of UEFA Cup
By: Tucker | Add Comments
Twente’s UEFA Cup hopes ended against Olympique de Marseille, losing out to penalties. After winning in the Marseille 1-0, Twente returned home but could not add to the lead with Ben Arfa leveling the match twenty-four minutes into the match. The Ligue 1 side started very quickly but were held back. Throughout the match Marko Arnautović flourished for Twente, creating and coming close but still never able to break through as a number of efforts fell short. Later in the match Cheik Tioté drive from the edge of the area looked to be headed-in before Marseille ‘keeper Steve Mandanda pushed it wide with a stunning save. Still with three minutes left in extra time Twente looked to have the needed goal but Youssouf Hersi’s offer pounded the goal post and the match went to a shoot-out. Finally after sixteen attempts, with Marseille winning 7-6, Twente’s UEFA Cup effort came to an end.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers over Sparta
By: Tucker | Add Comments
Twente’s visit to Rotterdam concluded with a 2-1 victory over Sparta thanks to Theo Janssen’s goal in added time.
Certainly feeling fatigue from the mid-week match against Marseille in the UEFA Cup, Twente’s energy level was low and the attack was tame for the most part. However fortune seemed to fall their way as Sander van Gessel turned in Eljero Elia’s cross for an own goal after only four minutes, giving Twente the 1-0 lead. However Serbian international Slobodan Rajković was adjudged for a hand ball thirty minutes in and Ruud Knol sent the ball to the back of the net bring the match level. For the balance of the match most of the attacking aspect was that of Steve McClaren’s side however Sparta had done well and very deserving of a draw. In a shocking conclusion to break the hearts of the Rotterdam club, Theo Janssen sent a speculative shot in added-time from beyond thirty-five metres that somehow evaded Sparta ‘keeper Cássio and give Twente the 2-1 victory.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers frustrate Marseille in UEFA Cup
By: Tucker | 3 Comments
Twente’s hopes of advancing in the UEFA Cup continued as they frustrated Marseille with a very easy 1-0 victory. Steve McClaren’s side now are unbeaten in ten matches and in the drivers seat to advance in the UEFA Cup with the return next week in Enschede.
After missing an early attempt, Austrian capped Marko Arnautović turned in Blaise Kufo cross at the twenty-second minute. Following that goal Twente did not put much emphasis on threatening again and focused on ball possession with clinical defending against the heavily out-matched French side. The closest attempt on the goal came from Twente as with ten minutes remaining with Kufo’s header slammed off the post, however with that attempt failing the match ended in favour of Twente 1-0.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers continue on unbeaten path
By: Tucker | 2 Comments
The “Tukkers” regained their winning ways with a 2 – 1 victory over FC Volendam, bringing their unbeaten streak to thirteen matches.
However the visiting side, who are at the bottom of the Eredivisie table did not make it easy and after a penalty was called upon Kenneth Perez in the fifth minute, Paul de Lange converted from the spot. Looking for the equalizer, Eljero Elia was creating problems but two minutes before the half hour Austrian international Marko Arnautović added his tenth of the season. Only six minutes later Twente was the beneficiary of a penalty call themselves and Blaise Kufo gave them home side the lead to stay. Volendam had a great deal of possession in the balance of the half but could not find a way through. Following the break Kenneth Perez was able to create a few chances but until Melvin Platje came in late Volendam hadn’t posed much of a threat. Those threats were silenced with quality defending and Steve McClaren’s side climbed within nine points of AZ with victory.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers give up points against De Graafschap
By: Tucker | Add Comments
Throughout much of the season Steve McClaren has attempted to squash talk of the “Tukkers” winning the championship and based upon the last week, he won’t need to mention it too often as they have squandered points. After last last Sunday’s disappointing draw to FC Utrecht they weakened their position in the table considerably with a 2-2 draw to table bottom dweller De Graafschap. The combined loss of four points have allowed Ajax and PSV to pull back within striking distance and AZ is so far off ahead of the table it would take a complete collapse their them not to win the championship.
Twente picked up where they left off in the mid week victory over NAC Breda and took the lead at the twenty-fourth minute when Austrian international Marko Arnautović cross was sent in by Blaise Kufo. However the relegation threatened side fought back instantly as Stijn Wuytens, on-loan from PSV, corner was headed in by Swiss international Stephan Keller. Twente went looking for the go-ahead with the Austrian’s drive hitting the cross bar seven minutes before the break. Level at the half the De Graafschap wasn’t about to back down and took the lead off the counter as Resit Schuurman, formerly of Twente sent a cross across the center of the box and Luuk de Jong headed it into the back of the net. Shy a goal Steve McClaren brought in Chiek Tiote and Romano Denneboom for Slobodan Rajkovic and Wout Brama respectively with sixteen minutes remaining. A bit of luck fell Twente’s way as with seventeen minutes remaining Luuk de Jong was adjudged for a hand ball, resulting in Blaise N’Kufo leveling from the spot. With the match even, it was far from over as De Graafschap came very close to finding the winner in the final moments but Sander Boschker saved the draw.
Category: Team NewsTwente rebounds with big win over NAC Breda
By: Tucker | Add Comments
After a disappointing draw against Utrecht on the weekend, the “Tukkers” responded with an overwhelming 4-1 victory over NAC Breda.
Climbing to second place in the table behind runaway leaders AZ, Twente went on the attack early and after a few missed chances, Austrian international Marko Arnautović nodded Ron Stam’s pass behind Jelle ten Rouwelaar into the net twenty-two minutes after the start. Nine minutes later Theo Janssen’s corner was sent in by Peter Wisgerhof and NAC looked out of the match. The match was getting out of the hand on the hour with Eljero Elia and Fouad Idabdelhay trading goals within two minutes to bring the match to 3-1. To finish the days scoring Blaise Kufo took advantage of a defensive error and delivered the ball to Romano Denneboom to finish a near total domination as time expired.
Category: Team NewsDe Tukkers falter against Utrecht
By: Tucker | Add Comments
With Heerenveen defeating Ajax on Saturday, the “Tukkers” had a perfect chance to grab second place as Utrecht visited Enschede. Unfortunately the visitors weren’t interested in rolling over and fought to scoreless draw.
Twente dominated most of the match but Utrecht goalkeeper Michael Vorm was relentless as he turned back numerous attempts by Kenneth Perez and company. Austrian international Marko Arnautović should have scored in the first minute but his attempt drifted angoningly wide. Less than ten minutes later his shot was saved by Vorm and the theme of the match seemed set in stone; Twente attack, Utrecht deny. Following the break Theo Janssen headed the Austrian’s cross off the bar and nothing Twente did could break the spell as the match ended without a score.
After such a strong run, this was a difficult run but they have to re-start the championship effort against NAC Breda this Wednesday.
Category: Team News
Home 
