FC Twente back into Europe after narrow win over tough Sparta

FC Twente has secured its ticket to the second preliminary round of the Conference League. The number five of the premier league settled at home with a tough Sparta Rotterdam, the number six: 1-0.

After last Thursday’s 1-1 draw, with a late equalizer by Ramiz Zerrouki, the cards were still not shuffled in the final of the playoffs. The decision therefore had to fall in the sold-out Grolsch Veste.

Twente, with Wout Brama standing in for the suspended Michal Sadílek, immediately took the initiative and almost forced the 1-0 after only two minutes of play. A corner ended up at the feet of Michel Vlap via Julio Pleguezuelo’s head.

Not for the first time this season, Sparta goalkeeper Nick Olij showed his class by turning Vlap’s attempt. However, he saw the ball come back at him via the body of teammate Aaron Meijers and reflexively prevented another early deficit.

In the remainder of the first half, Twente also got chances through Manfred Ugalde and Vaclav Cerny, coveted by Wolfsburg, among others, but they too could not make the fans present en masse in red cheer.

Sparta, which once again managed to disrupt Twente’s play well at times, did have a huge opportunity after eighteen minutes. Meijers, who came on as well, was unable to stop goalkeeper Lars Unnerstall.

At half-time, therefore, no goals had been scored and that was grist to the mill of Sparta, which once again showed to be a nasty opponent for Twente this season, given the previous three draws (1-1, 3-3 and 1-1).

The much-desired lead for the home side did come shortly after the break. Joshua Brenet got the ball at his feet with some fortune and saw it disappear into the goal via Sparta right back Shurandy Sambo.

However, the Rotterdammers did not give in and had shooting chances. Twice Unnerstall saved his team from an equalizer, as both Koki Saito and Arno Verschueren found their way to the German. A bit later Verschueren hit the underside of the crossbar.

Twente escaped and benefited from an inserted drinking break in the Enschede baking oven. Coach Ron Jans, who was also stepping down, was able to give some pointers for the remainder of the game.

These arrived, as Twente held firm in the closing stages. Club icon Brama received a standing ovation at his substitution thirteen minutes before time and left the field in tears.