FC Twente’s unbeaten home record this season is over as they were beaten 2-1 by ten-man Groningen at the Grolsche Veste.
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With Ajax dropping points and PSV no playing this weekend, Twente had the chance to close the gap on the top two, and after a minute they nearly had the lead as Sergio Padt had to pull off a great save to deny Hakim Ziyech.
Both teams traded chances before Groningen took the lead on 19 minutes with Jarchinio Antonia’s cross being met by a diving Michael de Leeuw who sent his header past Nick Marsman.
The Twente goalkeeper was then at fault as Groningen doubled their lead before the half hour mark as Tjarron Chery’s weak free kick squirmed under Marsman’s grasp and into the net.
Twente dominated the second half as they looked for a way back into the match and they were given hope on 81 minutes when Danny Hoesen was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Cuco Martina. Striker Luc Castaignos fired Twente back into the match with two minutes left, but despite intense pressure late on the home side could not find an equaliser.
Groningen climb to eighth with the victory, while Twente remain third and six points behind second place Ajax.
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