FC Twente provisionally took third place in the Eredivisie on Sunday. The Tukkers started well when visiting Sparta Rotterdam, but were nevertheless 2-1 behind for a long time. In five crazy minutes shortly after halftime, ten Spartans turned the deficit into a lead, which was only given away in injury time. Substitute Naci Ünüvar was the hero of Twente with a beautiful goal: 2-2.

Both teams had chances in a lively early phase, without any goals being scored. Twente suffered a setback after twenty minutes of play: captain Robin Pröpper, who will soon extend his expiring contract, had to leave with an injury. Alec van Hoorenbeeck was his replacement at the center back for the visitors.

The sting was really in the tail of the first half. Saïd Bakari stepped on Michel Vlap's foot and received a yellow card. After VAR intervention, the Spartan had to leave with an immediate red card. Thanks to Sem Steijn's 0-1, Twente immediately took advantage of the surplus situation well into injury time and went to rest with a minimal lead in Rotterdam.

Sparta has grown wings after the red card! Tobias Lauritsen strikes twice from eleven meters! ????#spatwe

— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) December 17, 2023

Shortly after the restart, Twente had bad luck when Gijs Smal aimed at the post. Sparta's ten then made a great comeback. Shortly afterwards, Van Hoorenbeeck, Pröpper's replacement, committed a foul on Arno Verschueren's own sixteen. The ball hit the spot and it was Tobias Lauritsen who made it 1-1 from eleven meters.

A few minutes later, Michal Sadílek knocked Django Warmerdam into the penalty area and the ball landed on the spot again. Lauritsen again connected and again outsmarted the attacker Lars Unnerstall: 2-1. Sparta even seemed to make it 3-1 after a smooth counter. However, on a pass from Lauritsen, the alert Verschueren did not get further than the post.

Joseph Oosting intervened and brought the unfortunate Van Hoorenbeeck back to the side, with Rick van Wolfswinkel as his replacement. Younes Taha simultaneously relieves Vlap. Oosting made a maximum of five substitutions in total and the introduction of Ünüvar in particular turned out to be a golden opportunity for the trainer.

Twente kept trying in the final phase. Steijn hit the post and Sadilek shot into the hands of Nick Olij. Sparta tried to hold back with all its might and was waiting for the counter. The brave Lords of the castle However, they did not get the victory over the line: on a pass from Mitchell van Bergen, Ünüvar shot from the turn and beautifully hit the short corner: 2-2. Twente then continued to fight for the full spoils, but in the end a point was the maximum possible.

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