PEC Zwolle 1-1 FC Groningen Player Ratings: Jurjus 8.2/10 Stars as Late Drama Salvages Groningen a Point

For 81 minutes, the MAC3PARK Stadion offered very little to write home about. PEC Zwolle and FC Groningen served up a quiet, uneventful Eredivisie contest that struggled to generate any meaningful momentum in either direction, a match that looked destined to end goalless and be forgotten by the following morning.

Then, in the space of just two extraordinary minutes, everything changed. Odysseus Velanas broke the deadlock in the 82nd minute to send PEC Zwolle fans into raptures, only for Thom van Bergen to immediately silence them with a stunning equaliser just 120 seconds later. It was the kind of frantic, breathless finish that no one saw coming, and it ensured both sides left with a share of the spoils in a game that will be remembered solely for those two wild moments at the end. Here are Sportsdunia's PEC Zwolle vs FC Groningen player ratings.

Key Takeaways

• An 81-minute stalemate was blown apart by two goals in two minutes, turning a forgettable contest into a genuinely memorable finale.
• Hidde Jurjus was the standout performer on the night. Rated 8.2/10, the goalkeeper was the one consistent bright spot across 90 minutes, keeping his side in contention during a largely uneventful tie.
• Neither side will be satisfied with the point. PEC were seconds away from a vital three points before Groningen's immediate response ensured the spoils were shared most dramatically.

PEC Zwolle Player Ratings vs FC Groningen

Here are the PEC Zwolle player ratings for the PEC Zwolle vs FC Groningen Eredivisie fixture.

Goalkeeper

Tom de Graaff - 7.5: We thought he was brilliant. The young keeper made five crucial saves, four of which were from inside his own box. He commanded his area well and was a calming presence for much of the game. Absolutely no chance with the equalizing goal.

Defenders

Olivier Aertssen - 6.0: A bit of an up-and-down evening for the defender. He made four clearances, which was good to see, but his passing was a letdown, with only 57% accuracy. He lost possession far too many times for our liking and looked a little overwhelmed at times.

Anselmo García MacNulty - 7.0: A really solid showing. What stood out to us was his composure in duels, winning eight of eleven battles. He was tidy on the ball, created a big chance, and looked comfortable throughout.

Tijs Velthuis - 7.0: Impressive at the back. He was a rock in the air, winning five aerial duels and making some vital clearances and tackles. His passing was crisp, and he even managed to block two shots. You can't ask for much more from your centre-back.

Simon Graves - 7.0: A very busy night for Graves. He was everywhere, making nine clearances and winning a ton of duels. He even popped up with a key pass that created a big chance. The only downside was his tendency to be a bit too aggressive, committing four fouls.

Midfielders

Shola Shoretire - 7.0: A creative spark in the midfield. He was always looking to make things happen, providing three key passes. His link-up play was excellent, and he was a constant source of danger before being substituted. We were a little surprised to see him taken off.

Zico Buurmeester - 6.5: A tireless worker in the engine room. He made eight tackles, which shows his commitment, but he really struggled with the ball, losing possession 20 times. His final product just wasn't there tonight, despite his incredible work rate.

Younes Namli - 6.5: A frustrating night for the midfielder. He was a real threat, hitting the woodwork and forcing two good saves from the keeper. However, he also missed two big chances, and you could see the disappointment on his face. On another day, he could have had a hat-trick.

Ryan Thomas - 6.0: It was a shame to see the captain go off injured so early. In the 30 minutes he was on the pitch, he looked tidy and kept things moving. It's impossible to give him a higher rating, given the limited time, but he was missed.

Thijs Oosting - 6.5: He put in a real shift. Ten ball recoveries are a fantastic stat and show how much ground he covered. He got into good positions and had a couple of shots, but failed to really test the keeper.

Forwards

Koen Kostons - 7.5: He got the goal that nearly won them the game. He was a constant nuisance for the opposition defence, always running the channels. He missed one big chance earlier, but he showed great composure to take his goal when it mattered.

Substitutes

Nick Fichtinger - N/A: Came on for the injured Ryan Thomas but didn't have enough time or involvement to warrant a rating.

Odysseus Velanas - N/A: Replaced Thijs Oosting but failed to make a significant impact on the game.

Jan Faberski - N/A: A late substitute with little time to influence the result.

Kaj de Rooij - N/A: Brought on in the final minutes with the game in the balance.

Manager

Henry van der Vegt - 6.5: His team fought hard and executed the game plan to take a late lead. The major criticism has to be how they conceded just two minutes later. A lack of concentration at a crucial moment cost them two points. It felt like a winnable game that slipped away.

FC Groningen Player Ratings vs PEC Zwolle

Check out the FC Groningen player ratings vs PEC Zwolle.

Goalkeeper

Hidde Jurjus - 8.2: Our man of the match. An absolutely immense performance between the sticks. He made five saves, all from shots inside the box, to keep his team in the contest. What stood out to us was his commanding presence and excellent positioning. He deserved a clean sheet.

Defenders

Thijmen Blokzijl - 6.5: A quiet but effective game. He was very comfortable in possession, with a high pass accuracy. He wasn't tested too much defensively, but did his job when called upon without any fuss.

Dies Janse - 7.0: We were very impressed with Janse. He looked so composed for a defender, boasting an 89% pass accuracy and even creating two chances. Defensively solid, winning most of his duels. A top all-round display.

Marco Rente - 7.0: The captain led by example before his unfortunate injury. He was strong in the tackle, read the game well, and was a threat from a set-piece, even hitting the woodwork. His departure was a big loss for the team.

Marvin Peersman - 6.0: An unremarkable performance. He played for over an hour but struggled to get involved in the game, either defensively or offensively. He wasn't bad, but he wasn't particularly good either.

Midfielders

Travis Hernes - 6.5: He brought a lot of energy to the midfield. He was always trying to drive forward and created a big chance. The downside was his tendency to lose possession, which happened a bit too often for our liking before he was subbed.

Jorg Schreuders - 6.5: An extremely tidy passer of the ball, with 94% accuracy. He worked hard off the ball too, recovering it eight times. However, he was largely anonymous in the final third and picked up a booking.

David van der Werff - 5.5: From our perspective, he had a night to forget. His passing was all over the place, and he lost possession 22 times. He also missed a big chance to score. It was no surprise to see him substituted.

Tygo Land - 6.5: A neat and tidy performance in midfield. He kept the ball ticking over nicely and rarely gave it away. He didn't really stamp his authority on the game, but provided a good platform for others.

Forwards

Younes Taha - 7.0: A classic case of hero and villain in one player. He lost the ball an astonishing 25 times and was often frustrating to watch. But then he produces a moment of sheer quality with a perfect cross for the equalizer. You take the rough with the smooth.

Thom van Bergen - 7.5: The man of the moment for Groningen. He was a constant threat, taking six shots in total. He missed a couple of big chances, but his persistence paid off with a brilliant header to earn his team a point.

Substitutes

Wouter Prins - N/A: Came on for the final half-hour but had little impact.

Tika de Jonge - N/A: Replaced the energetic Travis Hernes but couldn't replicate his influence.

Brynjólfur Willumsson - N/A: A late cameo with the team chasing the game.

Tyrique Mercera - N/A: Came on for the injured captain, Marco Rente, and picked up a late yellow card.

Manager

D. Lukkien - 7.0: He'll be delighted with the character his team showed. To go behind so late and respond almost instantly is a sign of a well-coached team with great spirit. He made the right calls, and his team's never-say-die attitude earned them a valuable point on the road.

Man of the Match

Hidde Jurjus was the man of the match.

Worst Performer

David van der Werff was the worst performer.