FC Twente tested their nerve to book their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League as they earned a 3-2 win over Odense.
Substitute Fer scores 82nd minute winner to book last-32 place
FC Twente tested their nerve to book their place in the knockout stages of the Europa League as substitute Leroy Fer grabbed an 82nd minute winner in a 3-2 victory over Odense.
The Eredivisie side knew victory was likely to be enough to ensure progression from Group K, but they made hard work of it as their opponents took an early lead then threatened to claim a point late on.
Twente had looked sharp in the early stages, with Nacer Chadli firing just wide and Peter Wisgerhof blasting a right-foot shot over the bar, before Ola John forced the first save from Stefan Wessels from a long-range free-kick.
The visitors grabbed the lead completely against the run of play in the 11th minute when Baye Fall shot home left-footed with his side's first real opportunity of the match having dispossessed defender Douglas.
Chris Sorensen lifted a long-range effort just over the bar six minutes later, but the Dutchmen slowly began to settle and Wout Brama came close on 26 minutes as he forced another save from Wessels.
Inevitable
Denny Landzaat shot over the bar and Roberto Rosales forced another save out of the busy Wessels, then Luuk de Jong came even closer when his close-range header from an Emir Bajrami cross came back off the bar.
Twente's seemingly inevitable equaliser duly arrived in the 35th minute when John sent in a cross from deep on the left wing and Landzaat rose to nod the ball past Wessels from six yards, the ball taking a deflection off defender Daniel Hoegh en route.
Less than two minutes later, Landzaat grabbed his second, once again latching onto a deep cross from John and this time producing a wonderful right-foot volley which beat Wessels all ends up to put his side in front.
Sorensen came close to equalising for Odense seven minutes into the second half when his shot was tipped round the post by Twente keeper Nikolay Mihailov.
And the Danes did draw level on the hour after Landzaat fouled Sorensen, who stepped up to float a neat free-kick into the box where Fall rose to meet it and direct a powerful header past Mihailov.
Twente finally made sure of the points eight minutes from time thanks to another John cross, this time from the left, which Fer met with his head to secure qualification for the next stage for his side.
