FC Twente were deserved winners against Beşiktaş at De Grolsch Veste on Thursday night thanks to Daan Rots’ second half goal.
Manchester United legend Ole Gunnar Solskjær was handed his first defeat since his return to football management and history was made for the hosts as they successfully kept a clean sheet against Turkish opposition for the first time in the club’s history.
The result takes FC Twente into 23rd place in the table, whereas Besiktas have now been eliminated from the UEFA Europa League.
As it happened
Chances were few and far between for either team in the opening 15 minutes, but both sides shared a healthy amount of possession of the ball in a tight encounter.
The hosts created a fantastic opportunity through Michel Vlap, his powerful acceleration helped him advance inside the area but his effort was dragged far past Mert Günok’s post.
FC Twente fans, who expected the net to bulge, were left disappointed when Ricky van Wolfswinkel’s headed effort somehow, missed the target. It was Sayfallah Ltaief who cut inside and fizzed in an extremely powerful cross, and like most strikers are taught, Van Wolfswinkel headed the ball down, however his effort hit the floor and bounced over the target from just five yards out.
Embed from Getty ImagesMoments later, Bart van Rooj had a snap shot and stung the palms of Günok, shortly after, Arthur Masuaku mirrored Van Rooj’s attempt and tested Lars Unnerstall to register the visitors’ first shot on target.
In an entertaining fixture, Anass Salah-Eddine was inches away from giving FC Twente the lead ten minutes before the interval. After intercepting a loose Beşiktaş pass, he accelerated into space and released a curled attempt, which was deflected past the post.
Momentum was in the hosts favour and by halftime, the stats spoke for themselves. FC Twente had registered 12 attempts towards goal, compared to Beşiktaş’ three. However, both teams had registered one shot on target each, meaning there was everything to play for in the second period.
The players were welcomed back onto the field to banners, pyros and fireworks coming from the FC Twente stand in hope of giving their players some extra motivation.
When play resumed, another chance was wasted by the hosts. Rots had done everything right; after a fantastic first touch, he beat his man and cut inside, but his strike sailed over the crossbar – leaving manager Joseph Oosting frustrated.
A brilliant chance from Al-Musrati was bravely blocked by Max Bruns to keep the score level on the hour mark.
FC Twente eventually, found the breakthrough with 15 minutes left to play. Salah-Eddine’s cross was squared across to Rots, and his curled effort left Günok stranded.
Embed from Getty ImagesMasuaku’s set piece looked destined for the back of the net, but a fantastic reflex save from Unnertstall helped the hosts hold onto their advantage as the clock ticked down.
Oosting celebrated his 53rd birthday yesterday, but the real celebrations were at full time when his side knocked Beşiktaş out of the competition in style.
The lineups
TWE: Unnerstall; Salah-Eddine, Lagerbielke, Bruns, Van Rooij; Sadílek, Vlap; Ltaief, Steijn, Rots; Van Wolfswinkel
BJK: Günok; Masuaku, Topçu, Uduokhai, Svensson; Al-Musrati, Fernandes; Muçi, Silva, Rashica; Immobile