FC Twente Secures Third Consecutive Conference League Victory Against Pafos
A strong second-half performance fueled by a red card for the visitors allowed the Dutch side to maintain their perfect record in the competition.
FC Twente continued their impressive run in the UEFA Conference League on Thursday, defeating Pafos FC 3-1 at De Grolsch Veste in Enschede. The victory marks the Dutch club's third win in as many matches, keeping them firmly in contention for the knockout stages of the tournament.
The match began with the hosts controlling the majority of possession, yet they struggled to break down a resilient Pafos defense. Despite Twente's dominance, it was the visitors who struck first. In the 40th minute, Lele stunned the home crowd by firing a powerful 25-yard strike past goalkeeper Joel Drommel to give Pafos a surprise 1-0 lead heading into halftime.
The second half initially mirrored the first, with Twente maintaining control but lacking the necessary creativity to equalize. A pivotal moment occurred just after the hour mark when Lele had a golden opportunity to double the lead for Pafos, but he was denied by Drommel. Shortly thereafter, the momentum shifted decisively in favor of the hosts.
Twente capitalized on a set-piece opportunity in the 63rd minute, as Ruud Nijstad headed home a free-kick delivery from Daouda Weidmann to level the score. The situation worsened for Pafos moments later when Lele, who had missed a chance to restore his team's lead, was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for a cynical foul.
With a numerical advantage, Twente increased the pressure on the visitors. Sondre Orjasaeter put the home side ahead with a composed finish following an assist from Younes Taha. Daouda Weidmann, who was later named Man of the Match, sealed the 3-1 victory in the 82nd minute with a clinical strike from eight yards out.
The result leaves Pafos still searching for their first win in the league phase and extends their winless streak across all competitions to six matches. For Twente, the win solidifies their position in the standings and provides significant momentum as they prepare for their upcoming European fixture against SC Freiburg in three weeks.
Sources
- Twente vs Pafos: UEFA Conference League stats & head-to-head bbc.com
- FC Twente v Pafos: what time, which channel and how to live stream? | Goal.com goal.com
- Preview: FC Twente vs Pafos FC - prediction, team news, lineups - Sports Mole sportsmole.co.uk
- Twente remain flawless after downing 10-man Pafos with second-half comeback tribalfootball.com
- Ajax scoort zes keer, Twente blijft foutloos in Conference League dbsuriname.com