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NOS Football•
FC Twente has managed to treat NEC to a defeat, although it went with pain and effort. The Tukkers, fourth in the Eredivisie last season, struck in injury time via newcomer Sem Steijn: 0-1.
After the successful European meeting in Belgrade against FK Cukaricki (1-3) Twente coach Ron Jans made four changes to his starting eleven. For example, the entire vanguard of Thursday (Ricky van Wolfswinkel, Daan Rots and Virgil Misidjan) was on the bench.
Tanne rolled up
That did not benefit Twente’s attacking game in the first half. NEC, led by the industrious Oussama Tannane, showed his muscles and had opportunities. Tannane (shot from just past the halfway line) and Marques (header wide) were the closest to scoring.
Jasper Cillessen also saw that from the stands. The goalkeeper is on the brink of exchanging Valencia for his former club NEC, although there are still some complications. Valencia and Cillessen’s management have a dispute, which has caused the transfer to be delayed.
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After the break there was less entertainment in Nijmegen. There was a moment of shock after a collision between Tannane and teammate Mikkel Duelund, but in the end the two were able to continue.
Jans gradually brought in fresh forces as Misidjan and Van Wolfswinkel in the second half, saw Joshua Brenet shoot over in the final and finally seemed to have to settle for a point with Twente.
After a chance for Elayis Tavsan – rescue Lars Unnerstall – Twente debutant Sem Steijn, who came in halfway through, still struck (0-1) on a pass from Brenet, so that Twente escaped losing points in his overture to the Eredivisie.
View the reactions of match winner Sem Steijn and NEC keeper Mattijs Branderhorst below:
Steijn telephone explodes: ‘Lots of congratulations’
Branderhorst about competitor Cillessen: ‘Also see it as an opportunity to measure myself’
