The game kicked off with the visitors harassing the Ado players at every opportunity - closing down, not letting them settle. FC Twentes players were well pumped up and will to stick their feet and heads in where it hurt. Eventually the pressure paid dividends as a free kick on the left was met with a header from N’Kufo, 0-1.

On twelve minutes FC Twente struck again. It was a beautiful piece of flowing intricate skilled football, including stepovers and back heels quickly progressed down the left wing. A firm ball inside was collected by N’Kufo who placed his shot into the corner, just passed the outstretched finger tips of second choice goalkeeper Waterman, 0-2.

A quieter period slowed the game down, with neither team really wanting to carry the game. FC Twente looked blasé about it all as Ado players looked lost as what best to do next. There seemed no danger on twenty two minutes as Ado knocked the ball around between the center circle and penalty box, only for Horvath to play a loose pass straight to Denneboom, who punished the error, 0-3.

Ado started taking long range shots at an untested Twente keeper, who was happily gathering them in or watching them fly wide or over the bar. On thirty eight minutes, FC Twente should have scored again - and deserved to. A build-up of 34 passes was worked as though on a training ground, only to be brought to an end by a tight offside decision. Twente began to exert more pressure on a weary Ado defence. Another cross in from the left was again met by N’Kufo, who saw the header fly just wide of the upright.

Approaching half time Twente looked to be just running the clock down, casually playing the ball around. When, all too casually, Rajkovic just played it back towards his keeper without looking. Two Ado players ran on, first taking it to the byline before steering the ball into the path of the waiting Knopper, who could not miss, 1-3. Fifty six seconds later the ball was being lobbed into the Ado net by Denneboom after Waterman directed a clearance straight to him twenty two meters out, 1-4. Seconds later the whistle blew for half time.

As both teams left the pitch, a chorus of insults and boos echoed around the stadium. The fans must have been feeling cheated after watching such a display of ineptitude. The traveling 200 fans from Enschede were however, delirious. A first forty five minutes of football left a woeful ADO looking shell shocked and beaten. The Ado Keeper was truly having a real nightmare of a game. His judgment was poor throughout the first half. But no Ado player could say they were much better. Ado just could not deal with N’Kufo and Denneboom, it could have been so much worse for Ado.

The trainer of ADO must have really warmed the ears of his players during the interval - they came out looking like a totally different team. One major substitution at half time: Zwinkels came on to replace Waterman who had a complete loss of confidence during the first half.

Ado huffed and puffed their way through the Twente midfield, creating chances, but none that were clear-cut. The crowd began to get behind the home team, urging them to get an early goal. After five minutes a huge sarcastic roar of cheers went around the stadium as Zwinkels made his first easy catch of the game, the first piece of goalkeeping that looked as though it was done with confidence. From that moment, the defence was able to look behind them and see someone they could rely on. For fifteen further minutes, it was Zwinkels against the attack of Twente, making several fine saves and blocking one-on-ones. The Midden Noord applauded his heroics and chanted his name.

Seventy two minutes. Good play from the Ado midfielders lead to a break into the box by Powel, as he was about to strike the ball, Rajkovic slid through him, penalty to Ado and a yellow card to Rajkovic. Cornelisse placed the ball on the spot. He struck the ball firmly to the keeper's left, but not far enough away from him - it was a shot saved and a great chance gone begging.

Final action of the night, Ado players' heads were down, as they knew they were out of the cup. Twente playing simple passing amongst themselves before releasing a quick pass through between defenders who screamed for an offside flag to be raised. After a brave second half performance by Zwinkels, he was now faced by two attackers, and no chance to do anything. Hersi made it 1-5.

1-5 was not the whole story - it could have been so much worse than that. To be honest, it flattered Ado, who just didn’t turn up. Despite this, the crowd gave the players a good cheer as they left the pitch. Those magnificent supporters deserve better than what they got. But my thoughts are this. I feel being out of the cup can only be a good thing for Ado. Now they can put all their energy and concentration into consolidating a mid table place for themselves, which is what they and the fans deserve.

Man of the Match: N’Kufo

Attendance: 9,880

Next match is: Ado v Groningen on Saturday 31 January at 6:45 p.m.

Neal McClimon

www.itpphotography.com
 

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