Etienne Vaessen Sent off After Loss of Composure as AZ Beats Groningen

It was not a weekend to remember for Belgian goalkeepers.

At Manchester United, Senne Lammens made two errors, while in the Netherlands, Jari De Busser had a moment to forget. A costly misunderstanding at the back gifted FC Groningen a goal, though AZ still secured victory after Groningen’s keeper lost his composure in added time.

The AZ goalkeeper was positioned high up the pitch, anticipating his defender would collect the ball. When that did not happen, De Busser left the ball, allowing Groningen’s Thom van Bergen to run through on an empty net and score, putting his side 3-1 up. The goal seemed to put the match to bed, but AZ mounted a remarkable comeback.

AZ Rebounds After Defensive Lapse

Despite conceding a third goal, AZ refused to surrender. The team struck back with 15 minutes remaining, finding the net to pull level at 3-3. The match continued its frantic pace into the final moments, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

The turning point came when Groningen goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, involved in a collision with AZ’s Ayoub Oufkir, was penalized by referee Jannick van der Laan. The decision, which led to a penalty kick, sparked an extreme reaction from Vaessen. After receiving a yellow card, the keeper continued to protest vehemently, leading to a second yellow card and his dismissal from the field.

Keeper’s Erupting Temper Seals AZ’s Win

The dismissal of Vaessen proved to be the final, decisive act of the match. With Groningen now a player down and their goalkeeper sent off, AZ’s Mexx Meerdink stepped up to the penalty spot and converted the spot-kick, securing a 4-3 victory for the home team. Vaessen’s loss of self-control directly handed AZ all three points.

Following the match, FC Groningen coach Dick Lukkien addressed his goalkeeper’s behavior. He described seeing teammates attempt to restrain Vaessen, who he said seemed to lose his composure completely. “I saw teammates trying to keep him away from there, but it is like he gets a kind of black spot,” Lukkien stated.

“That has to be made discussable, and he needs help with it.” While Lukkien understood the frustration, he emphasized that Vaessen had crossed a line. “I can imagine that you get emotional, but he has to handle that emotion better, because you can never win from a referee,” Lukkien said, adding that Vaessen had already apologized for his actions, which he recognized as “stupid.”

Analyst Cites a Pattern of Poor Discipline

The incident drew sharp criticism from Ron Jans. Speaking on NOS Studio Sport, Jans was blunt in his assessment. Jans, who acknowledged Vaessen is a “nice guy” and an excellent keeper, stated that the keeper’s repeated loss of control is becoming a structural issue. “He is almost a patient in these things,” Jans remarked, highlighting a pattern of behavior he finds unacceptable.

Jans detailed his disapproval of how Vaessen confronted the referee after the decision. “First he wants to walk away and then it looks as if he wants to attack,” Jans observed, noting that teammates had to physically hold the keeper back. “He must control himself much better. Whether it is a penalty or not, I don’t know, but this behavior cannot be [tolerated],” Jans concluded.

Broader Concerns for Belgian Keepers

Van Bommel witnessed both errors from the sidelines, as Lammens’ mistakes occurred during a Manchester United match while De Busser’s blunder led to a goal against Groningen.

For AZ, the victory salvaged what could have been a damaging loss. The team showed resilience by overcoming a two-goal deficit and capitalized on their opponent’s disciplinary collapse.

What’s Next for Both Clubs

For AZ, the win provides momentum as they continue their league campaign.