NAC Breda Hold On for Crucial 2-1 Win Over FC Twente

FC Twente's push for a top-four finish in the Eredivisie suffered a setback as they fell to a surprise 2-1 defeat at NAC Breda, despite a late rally.

FC Twente became the latest top-tier team to drop points in the Eredivisie, suffering a tough 2-1 loss away to NAC Breda. This result marks the fifth time a team from the top six has dropped points in recent matches. The turning point in the match came when referee Rob Dieperink denied Twente a penalty, and shortly after, NAC Breda capitalized on the momentum shift.

NAC Breda took the lead in the 14th minute through Adam Kaied's expertly curled effort. The hosts quickly doubled their advantage as Elias Mar Omarsson scored his sixth goal of the season. The Icelandic striker showcased his skill by precisely converting a cross from Boy Kemper, giving NAC Breda a comfortable two-goal cushion.

FC Twente were well aware of the task at hand and promptly applied pressure on NAC's half, but despite their best efforts, Michel Vlap, Bart van Rooij, and Mathias Kjolo were all unable to find the back of the net before the halftime break.

The visiting team carried their momentum into the second half, creating two significant scoring opportunities through Vlap and Eredivisie top scorer Sem Steijn. However, neither player was able to capitalize on their chances, leaving Twente still searching for a way back into the game.

Just 15 minutes before the final whistle, Daan Rots cleverly headed in a corner, providing FC Twente with a glimmer of hope and the opportunity to launch a desperate last-ditch attack in pursuit of an equalizer.

🔴 Nederlaag bij NAC Breda#FCTwente | #NACTWE pic.twitter.com/FGQ0ISY6yj

— FC Twente (@fctwente) January 19, 2025

FC Twente thought they had found the equalizer when Ricky van Wolfswinkel caught the NAC defense off guard and calmly finished a one-on-one opportunity with goalkeeper Daniel Bielica. However, the goal was disallowed due to offside, leaving Twente to continue their pursuit of a leveling goal.

Despite dominating possession in NAC's half, Twente were unable to find the breakthrough, and the hosts battled to hold on for a point. In injury time, Twente came close once more, but Van Wolfswinkel's header from close range lacked the accuracy and power to beat Bielica, ensuring the visitors would leave empty-handed.

The result marked the latest surprise of week 19, with FC Twente joining PSV, FC Utrecht, Feyenoord, and AZ as top teams to drop points over the weekend. Twente missed the opportunity to move into fourth place and will now regroup before their upcoming European fixture against Swedish champions Malmo FF. Meanwhile, NAC's hard-fought win propelled them back into the top half of the league, providing a much-needed boost after three consecutive Eredivisie losses.