Youness Mokhtar’s 93rd minute goal saw PEC Zwolle defeat 10-man Groningen 3-2 in a feisty encounter.
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Groningen got off to a good start and took the lead on 15 minutes when Mimoun Mahi’s cross was controlled at the back post by Ritsu Doan and he slotted his shot through Diederik Boer’s legs. However, PEC Zwolle equalised four minutes later through Stef Nijland who slotted into an empty net on the rebound after Sergio Padt kept out two shots.
The game calmed down after the hectic opening and neither side really went close to netting again before the break. Nine minutes into the second half, it was Groningen who regained their lead with Tom van Weert’s header judged to have crossed the line before Boer caught the ball.
The lead was once again short lived, though, as Ryan Thomas netted a fine equaliser on the hour mark with a prodded finish into the top corner.
Instead of going for a winner, both sides seemed to be happy to go after each other towards the end, and after a flurry of yellow cards, Groningen were reduced to ten men. Van Weert was shown a straight red card for a nasty challenge on Dirk Marcellis.
With the extra man, PEC Zwolle went in search of a winner which they found in the third minute of stoppage time through Mokhtar, who volleyed the ball past Padt from close range. The three points see PEC Zwolle rise to third while Groningen are 11th.
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