Vitesse Arnhem threw away a two goal lead as they drew 2-2 with Groningen and missed the chance to go top of the table.
- By Michael Bell
- Follow Michael on Twitter
Lucas Piazon had the first chance of the game, as he weaved through the Groningen defence, but his shot was cleared off the line by Eric Botteghin.
Filip Kostic then had Groningen’s first opportunity, when he shot just over the bar from just outside the box.
On 31 minutes the opening goal came for Vitesse, as Mike Havenaar headed in a Lucas Piazon corner at the back post, after Christian Atsu saw his shot tipped round the post by Marco Bizot.
Vitesse bombarded the Groningen goal early in the second half, with Bizot pulling off a great double save from Piazon, and then Ibarra. From the resulting corner, Marko Vejinovic hammered a shot from the edge of the box against the bar as the home side threatened to run riot.
With 23 minutes left, Piazon’s 30 yard free-kick hit the top of the bar twice, while at the other end Tjarron Chery hit the post with a low drive,
On 73 minutes, Piazon laid the ball off to Davy Propper on the edge of the box, and the midfielder stepped inside his defender before smashing the ball into the bottom corner as Vitesse finally found their second goal.
A minute later, Groningen pulled a goal back when a long ball was flicked on by Michael de Leeuw into the path of Richairo Zivkovic, and the young forward slotted the ball past Piet Velthuizen.
Amazingly Groningen equalised on 78 minutes, with Tjarron Chery sweetly firing into the corner, after some nice passing around the box.
Vitesse bombed forward looking for the winner, but Piazon scooped over from six yards out, and Ibarra had a penalty appeal turned down, when he went over inside the box.
After the draw Vitesse remain 6th, and Groningen 7th, but they are now both only one point behind leaders FC Twente, as the top of the table remains congested.
Follow
Follow @Footballoranje_ on Twitter
