NOS Football••Amended
Football players FC Twente stand up against Real Madrid, but bow anyway: 2-3
There was no revenge, but the women of FC Twente have managed to rehabilitate themselves from last week’s ignominious 7-0 defeat in the Champions League at Real Madrid.
At home against Real, the Enschede team kept pace with Spain’s number two – behind the untouchable Barcelona – for a long time and even took the lead at home, but ultimately lost: 2-3.
Wintering in the European club tournament has been lost due to the new defeat. Because leader Chelsea defeated Celtic 3-0 later in the evening (Wieke Kaptein headed in the 2-0 in London), Twente can no longer finish among the top two in group B.
Standings in group B (* numbers 1 and 2 to quarter-finals)
| Chelsea * | 4-12 (11-4) |
| Real Madrid * | 4-9 (16-5) |
| FC Twente | 4-3 (5-13) |
| Celtic | 4-0 (1-11) |
In front of around 8,000 spectators in the Grolsch Veste, where remnants of snow could still be seen in the center circle, FC Twente started the fourth group match with almost the same eleven. Compared to the away match, only Sophie te Brake was missing from the roll call. She was replaced by striker Jaimy Ravensbergen.
While the champion of the Netherlands was already trailing 2-0 after fifteen minutes last week, coach Joran Pot’s team had done better at home. Twente defended with concentration and tried to attack where possible and even pin down the opponent.
Nevertheless, the first chance was for Linda Caicedo, the 19-year-old rising star of Real from Colombia. However, her effort sailed wide, just like the long shot on the other side by Kayleigh van Dooren, who had managed to score twice in the 2-0 away match against Celtic.
Twente in the lead
The home team finally took the lead after half an hour. Alieke Tuin reached Ravensbergen from the right with a turning free kick, who deftly tapped the ball behind goalkeeper Misa Rodríguez: 1-0.
The self-confident FC Twente was well on its way to reaching halftime with that score, but shortly after center defender Anna Knol had to be substituted – she had hit the ball hard in the head from a short distance – things went wrong.
Caicedo slalomed past two defenders, but saw her slider blocked with the foot by goalkeeper Olivia Clark. However, the ball was shot in again by Sandie Toletti and ended up via a Twente leg at Caicedo, who had no trouble with the second chance from close range: 1-1.
Caicedo elusive
Real Madrid noticeably stepped up their game in the second half. Twente had to go back and was left unscathed after an hour when Signe Bruun pushed past the goal. Moments later, Caicedo Tuin turned wild and Clark saved, after which Naomie Feller shot the rebound high.
In the 71st minute the Spanish team finally scored. The almost elusive Caicedo once again fooled Tuin and served the rushing Bruun, who finished calmly: 1-2.
The home team then made frantic attempts to tie the score and came close with a bang from outside the penalty area by Ella Peddemors, who received her first invitation to the Dutch national team on Tuesday.
But a draw was no longer possible for the Twente team, who even received the 1-3 in extra time from substitute Alba Redondo. It no longer mattered that Te Brake, who had come on to replace Knol just before half-time, brilliantly drove the 2-3 into the intersection.
In December, Twente will go to London for a match against Chelsea (which they previously lost 3-1 at home), while the Scottish Celtic will visit at the end.
Leave a Reply