FC Twente beat NEC in extra time to set up European play off final against AZ on Sunday

FC Twente reached the final of the playoffs for a spot in qualifying for the UEFA Conference League on Thursday. The club from Enschede beat NEC Nijmegen 3-2 after extra time. The home team did this while playing around 80 minutes with 10 men after Alex van Hoorenbeeck was sent off. They will face AZ Alkmaar in the final on Sunday.

AZ booked their final place with a lot more ease. The Alkmaarders beat SC Heerenveen 4-1 earlier on Thursday. The final will be played in Alkmaar because AZ finished in fifth place in the Eredivisie table, and Twente finished in sixth. The teams faced each other last week in the Eredivisie. That game finished in a 2-2 draw.

FC Twente were dominating in the opening stages of the game against NEC, and they took the lead in the first half through Michal Sadilek, but the red card for Van Hoorenbeeck changed the game for Joseph Oosting’s side.

The Belgian defender fouled Sontje Hansen when the NEC winger had gotten behind the Twente defense and was about to run in on goal.

NEC seemed to take advantage of the extra man, taking the lead through goals from Kodak Sano and Vito van Crooij. However, the latter then gave Twente a way back into the game when his error led to Sem Steijn scoring the equalizer.

Younes Taha got the winner for FC Twente in extra time to shoot the Tukkers to the final.

Twente knew prior to the game who their opponents in the final would be as a hat trick from Mexx Meerdink had helped AZ beat Heerenveen in the earlier match. The 21-year-old celebrated his recent contract extension with three goals within the first 45 minutes of the game.

Alexandre Penetra added another for the Alkmaarders, with Ion Nicolaescu getting a consolation goal for the visitors.