Twente - AZ: Last-Second Decider Sends Fans Into Frenzy

twente - az

Enschede, Netherlands — FC Twente staged a dramatic late comeback to defeat AZ Alkmaar 2-1 at De Grolsch Veste, a last-ditch decider that sent the home crowd into a frenzy and kept the race for European football hot in the Eredivisie.

The visitors struck first, with AZ taking the lead midway through the first half after a swift counter down the right flank culminated in a precise finish from the edge of the box. Twente resisted for long spells, required to hold their shape as AZ dictated play and tested the goalkeeper with a series of set pieces and probing runs.

Twente drew level with just over a quarter of the match remaining, thanks to a well-worked corner routine. A towering header found the back of the net, restoring parity and igniting the home stands. The equalizer changed the tone of the evening, as the teams traded bursts of pressure and late opportunities in a tense finish.

Then came the moment that decided it all. In stoppage time, a mistake at the AZ back line opened a window for Twente’s substitute forward. He drove into the box, shrugged off a challenge, and tucked a low shot past the keeper to seal a dramatic 2-1 victory. The stadium roared as the goal was confirmed, with blue-and-white flags waving and supporters singing long after the final whistle.

The win piles pressure on both sides in their bid for a top finish. Twente move up into the upper mid-table, breathing down teams ahead of them, while AZ, who had hoped to consolidate a push for European football, were left to rue the late concession. The contest lived up to its billing as a tense, combative affair with moments of quality and a finish that will be remembered by the home fans for a long time.

Twente’s coach praised the way his team rode out the early pressure and found a late winner. 'We showed character and belief,' he said. 'When the goal finally came, you could feel the relief cascade through the crowd.' AZ’s manager offered a more tempered verdict, acknowledging the better moments and the unfortunate late lapse that swung the match in Twente’s favor.

As the league calendar moves forward, both teams will regroup quickly. Twente will host their next fixture looking to translate this spirited performance into consistency, while AZ must recover from a setback that will sting in the minutes-long celebration that followed the final whistle. The night at De Grolsch Veste produced a stadium full of adrenaline and a result that could influence the table race for weeks to come.

Twente - AZ: Last-Second Decider Sends Fans Into Frenzy

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