Twente quick off the mark against Racing
Thursday, October 23, 2008
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FC Twente 1-0 Real Racing Club
Romano Denneboom's early goal was enough to give the Dutch hosts victory against the Spanish team in the sides' opening Group A fixture.
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Deserved win
The striker got on to Kenneth Perez's cross to score in the seventh minute, and Steve McClaren's dominant team might even have added to their lead in a deserved win. The result gave McClaren a boost ahead of his return to England against Manchester City FC on 6 November, when Racing are at home to FC Schalke 04, who also were victorious tonight.
Early goal
The Dutch club started strongly and sent out an early warning when Eljero Elia stole the ball from Pedro Munitis and served Blaise Nkufo, whose powerful strike was saved by Fabio Coltorti. The Racing keeper was soon beaten by Denneboom's header, however, and Perez nearly had a goal of his own later but Wout Brama's cross was adjudged to have drifted out of play.
Twente on top
The Spanish side's coach Juan Muniz made two substitutions at the restart, bringing on Óscar Serrano and Juan Valera, yet Twente retained the initiative and Coltorti had to make a one-handed stop from Perez at the near post. Serrano almost equalised when his long-range drive flew just past the goal, but despite the injured Perez making way for Youssouf Hersi, Twente continued to threaten and with 16 minutes left Nkufo was just unable to touch in Elia's deep cross.