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Groningen Bounce Back in Stunning Style
Following a disappointing result last week, Groningen returned to early season form by demolishing Vitesse in front of almost 20,000 fans at the Euroborg.
It was the home team from start to finish, and their dominance showed with their first real attacking showing of the season.
Quarter of an houe in, and the lively Glenn Salmon was tripped in the area - penalty. The South African stepped up, and rifled it into the bottom left hand corner.
10 minutes later, and Salmon was involved again. This time playing a perfect pass into Fali Montes - and the Spaniard took it round the keeper before running the ball into the goal - the game wrapped up by half time.
Chances were created immediately into the second half, also. As a Tuhuteru corner found Salmon at the near post, and the striker headed home unmarked.
Looking for a hattrick, Salmon then spurned a good chance near the end - electing to shoot rather then pass, although he was unlucky as he hit the bar.
There was still more action though, as sustitute Didier Marcel received his marching orders 3 minutes from the end for a wreckless foul on Santos - a second yellow card.
Santos, it was, who had the last laugh, as he dispossesed a defender on the half way line - and ran to the penalty area, before placing the ball into the far corner.
Fantastic performance - and surely Groningen are a team to beat this season.
FC Groningen 4-0 Vitesse (Salmon 15 pen, 50, Montes 23, Santos 90; Martel s/o 87)
Line-up (4-4-2): Beukenkamp; Elshot, Florén, Vrede (c), Zoricich; Krstev, De Witte, Nicolas, Hugo; Montes, Salmon
Subs: Santos, Lambers, Kruiswijk, Landerl, Drent, Smit, De Witte
We've been drawn away to Zwolle in the Dutch FA Cup 3rd Round
30/9
(8th) Zwolle vs. FC Groningen (7th)
Oosterenk
Team News: Fali Montes suspended. Hristov still injured.
Groningen in Sintilating Form Again!
In a preview of the Dutch Cup match, Groningen proved that last week's thrashing was no one off with a mesmerizing performance today.
They got started after just 24 seconds, when a dreadful backpass was picked up by Hugo, who scored the one-on-one easily.
On 15 minutes, the advantage doubled. gnacio Tuhuteru's cross finding the feet of Glenn Salmon, who redirected the ball into the goal for his 4th of the season.
Zwolle looked down and dejectected at half time - but it only got worse. Tuhuteru's corner going all the way to the far post for Mile Krstev to nod home well. And it was Krstev who picked up the assist for the 4th goal. A lovely through ball sent Santos on his way, and the Spainiard made it 3 goals in 4 appearances with an emphatic finish.
Zwolle created one chance near the end, and were unlucky when Ivan Cvetkov's shot hit the inside of the post and trickled across the line, before it was cleared. But Groningen had the final word, as a De Witte corner was thundered past the keeper by captain Regillio Vrede in stoppage time.
(6th) FC Groningen vs. Willem II (10th)
Euroborg
Team News: Everyone fit :cool:
14 goals in 3 games, as Groningen march on...
"Amazing", was all Willem II manager Mark Wotte could say about the performance that saw his side ripped to shreds.
Groningen are starting to make serious moves in the Eredivisie, following another performance that wowed the many thousands of fans in the Euroborg.
It all began after 20 minutes, when Glenn Salmon's turn and pass put Fali Montes through - and the 31 year old put the ball away fantastically on his way to a hattrick.
5 minutes later, and a corner that wasn't properly cleared led to the 2nd. Ignacio Tuhuteru's cross headed in spectacularly by Mile Krstev.
2-0 looked certain to be the half time score, but Montes grabbed a second just before the whistle thanks, once again, to Salmon, who this time completed a one two that saw Montes left foot a shot into the corner.
The second half started in much the same fashion, as Krstev was bundled over after only 2 minutes. Up stepped the reliable Salmon, who sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 4-0.
The rout wasn't yet complete - as Fali Montes completed a fantastic hattrick 20 minutes from the end, after a good cross from Hristov was headed past the stranded keeper.
FC Groningen 5-0 Willem II (Fali Montes 20,45,70, Krstev 25, Salmon 48(p))
Despite playing fantastic football early on, Groningen got absoloutely hammered by an Ajax side, which made the Groningen marking look like that of a woman learning the offisde trap.
Fali Montes gave the visitors a deserved lead on the quarter hour, but from then on it was all Ajax.
Nelson Boukhari got the equaliser, after drifting in from midfield to put away a rebound. Culina then scored a a well placed shot from the edge of the area, before Sikora scored one of the goals of the season.
Collecting the ball on the right hand edge of the area, he used the outside of his right foot and curled in a beaty into the top corner, and off the post.
After the break, the shambolic marking continued, as Hatem Trablesi was allowed to come in from right back, and slide in a good cross from van der Gun - once again, unmarked.
van der Gun had the last say, too, as a mistake by Kruiswijk put him through with the ball bouncing awkwardly. It posed no problems for the striker, though, who chipped it over the helpless Beukenkamp.
Ajax 5-1 FC Groningen (Boukhari 27, Culina 36, Sikora 45, Trabelsi 69, van der Gun 86; Montes 16)
It was back to basics for Groningen this afternoon, as they professionally disposed of Zwolle to advance to the 4th round (where they will play Ajax at home).
Fali Montes, again, was the hero, as he brought his season tally up to 8 with a brace of well taken goals.
His first was a good move that saw Glenn Salmon's shot parried - only for the Spaniard to gobble up the rebound.
Chances were rare, in a game that Groningen dominated by possession, rather then all out attack, and the 2nd goal, late on, was the culmination of that.
Some 15 passes strung together, before Santos freed up a bit of space in the area. He drew the defender, and squared it to Montes, who buried it into the near top corner.
Overall, a comfortable display, that the visitors will be very happy with.
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