Week 31 Eredivisie Report: Kostic late winner clinches points |

Friday 11th April 2014

FC GRONINGEN 2-1 NAC BREDA

Filip Kostic hit an 92nd minute solo effort to give Edwin van der Looi’s FC Groningen their fourth consecutive win in tonight’s 2-1 victory over NAC Breda.

The visitors felt robbed just before half-time when Chelsea loanee Stipe Perica hit an effort towards goal and Hans Hateboer booted the ball off the line. NAC players protested with referee Eric Braamhaar but the official waved away appeals. Video replays showed that decision was very close and may indeed have been the wrong one.

After the goal-less first half, it took ten minutes into the second half for Groningen to take the lead. Braamhaar awarded the hosts a penalty after Gill Swerts fouled Filip Kostic in the box and Nick van der Velden hit home the resulting penalty.

NAC, desperate for points, pressed for the equalising goal and Stipe Perica notched the leveller on 73 minutes. The young Croatian striker beautifully controlled a cross on his chest and smashed the ball into the net, giving Groningen goalkeeper Marco Bizot no chance of stopping.

The visitors attacked for all three points and came close on two occasions through Danny Verbeek and Perica. However, it would be Groningen to claim the maximum points two minutes into stoppage time with Filip Kostic notching his eighth goal of the season. Cutting in from the right-wing, dodging a few challenges before smashing a shot home from outside of the area.

The Eruoborg erupted as the final whistle was blown and Groningen have now virtually confirmed their berth in Europa League playoffs. Meanwhile, NAC sit only four points off the dropzone and must face the visit of RKC Waalwijk in a potential six-pointer.

TEAMS

GRONINGEN: Bizot, Hateboer, Botteghin, Wijnaldum, Burnet, Kieftenbeld, Adorjan (De Leeuw 89), Lindgren (Van Nieff 79), Van der Velden (Kirm 84), Zivkovic, Kostic.

SUBS NOT USED: Van der Lei, Clintje, Saban, Zeefuik.

GOALS: Van der Velden 55, Kostic 90+2.

BOOKINGS: Burnet 60, Kostic 88, De Leeuw 90+2.

NAC: Ten Rouwelaar, Drost, Kwakman, Gilissen (Verbeek 70), Hooi, Matic, Poepon, Perica, Swerts (Van der Weg 74), Buijs, Bodor.

SUBS NOT USED: Babos, Hadouir, Seuntjens, Sarpong, Suk.

GOALS: Perica 73.

BOOKINGS: None.