FC Groningen and FC Twente played out an entertaining 2-2 draw at the Euroborg on Sunday.
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Both sides were expecting to challenge for the top seven places this season, but with Twente in 9th and Groningen down in 11th their chances of qualifying for European football seem to rest in the KNVB Cup.
Groningen started the game on top, but it was Twente who led after twelve minutes with Renato Tapia rifling an unstoppable shot past Sergio Padt from the edge of the box.
The home side hit the crossbar through Tjarron Chery, but they were level on 23 minutes when Lorenzo Burnet received a pass from Albert Rusnak before firing into the far corner past Nick Marsman, who was in for the ill Sonny Stevens.
Joachim Andersen restored Twente’s lead just before the hour mark as the defender bundled in Hakim Ziyech’s free kick from close range. Ziyech nearly made it 3-1 soon after but his powerful strike was just tipped over the bar by Sergio Padt.
Ten minutes from time Groningen earned themselves a point through Mimoum Mahi, who dribbled inside from the left hand side before firing a shot past a surprised Marsman from the edge of the box.
The point means Twente remain 9th and six points off the top seven, while Groningen remain 11th.