FC Twente lost a friendly match against FC Porto on Sunday evening. For a long time, the Dutch team seemed on track for an impressive result in this prestigious clash, but in the final minute, Francesco Farioli's Porto still secured the win. A notable moment was the red card shown to Naci Ünüvar.
Embed from Getty Images
For the first time in three years, FC Twente is heading into a season without the added pressure and scheduling demands of European competition.
While this may be disappointing for the fans and players who hoped for continental nights, it has also opened up unique opportunities such as the chance to travel to Portugal and face FC Porto in a prestigious preseason friendly. The match, held at the iconic Estádio do Dragão, drew a strong crowd, with many eager to see how the Dutch side would measure up against one of Portugal’s footballing giants. For Porto, this was one of the final tune-ups before their 2025/26 campaign, which includes guaranteed participation in the group stage of the UEFA Europa League.
Twente came into the game with intensity and showed they weren’t just in Portugal to make up the numbers. In the early minutes, Bart van Rooij delivered a dangerous cross into the box that deflected off a Porto defender and struck the post a moment that silenced the home fans and signaled that Twente meant business. Despite the bright start, the first half didn’t provide many more fireworks. It was a fairly controlled and cautious affair, with both sides prioritizing structure over flair. Porto did have a significant chance of their own, striking the crossbar after a well-orchestrated attack, but neither team managed to break the deadlock.
That all changed just before halftime, when tensions flared. Porto’s Gabriel Veiga went in with a reckless, high challenge on Naci Ünüvar one that clearly crossed the line from aggressive to dangerous. The Twente midfielder, understandably furious, lashed out in retaliation. What had been a quiet match suddenly turned fiery, and the referee had no choice but to restore order by showing a red card to both players. The double sending-off shifted the tone of the match and created more space on the pitch for both sides.
With ten men each, the game opened up considerably in the second half. Twente capitalized first. Mitchell van Bergen, a player whose time at the club has so far been marked by inconsistency and a lack of end product, reminded everyone of his quality. Picking up the ball near the edge of the area, the winger from Brabant curled a superb shot into the far corner, leaving Porto’s goalkeeper rooted to the spot. It was a goal worthy of the occasion, and it gave Twente a surprising lead against the hosts.
But Porto quickly responded. Francesco Farioli, in his first home match as Porto’s head coach, made a series of tactical tweaks that helped his side regain control. One of his substitutes, young forward Samu Aghehowa, found the equalizer not long after Van Bergen’s strike. The goal came from a sharp passing move that carved open Twente’s backline and allowed Aghehowa to slot home with composure. The momentum had shifted, and the home fans sensed that a comeback was in the air.
For most of the remaining time, it looked as though the game would end in a respectable 1-1 draw a result that would have been seen as a moral victory for Twente. But in the dying moments of the match, Porto struck again. This time it was William Gomes, another promising youngster, who stepped up. The forward pounced on a loose ball inside the box and fired past the keeper, making it 2-1 and sending the Dragão into celebration. The win marked a positive start to Farioli’s tenure in front of his new supporters just as his final match in charge of Ajax had ended with a win over Twente, so too did his first outing with Porto.
As for what comes next, both teams have different paths ahead. Porto will conclude their preseason preparations with a high-profile clash against Atlético Madrid next Sunday. That game will serve as their final test before the Primeira Liga kicks off on August 9 with a home match against Vitória SC. For FC Twente, there’s still work to be done. The Dutch club has upcoming friendlies against RKC Waalwijk and Italian side Udinese as they fine-tune their squad ahead of the Eredivisie opener on August 10, when they’ll travel to face PEC Zwolle.
Despite the loss, Twente can take positives from their performance especially in the way they challenged one of Europe’s more seasoned sides and gave valuable minutes to a range of players. For Porto, the victory will build confidence as they gear up for a season where domestic success and a strong European campaign are both expected.
Updated: 10:17, 27 Jul 2025
