Weghorst Hat-Trick and Ørjasaeter’s Four Assists Put Twente in Control
Wout Weghorst delivered a landmark performance on Sunday, scoring his first Eredivisie hat-trick as FC Twente overwhelmed Excelsior in a one-sided contest. The striker completed his treble before half-time, while Norwegian winger Sondre Ørjasaeter supplied four assists in a remarkable opening period. Together, their contributions turned a competitive fixture into a showcase of Twente’s attacking quality.
ESPN pundit Karim El Ahmadi praised both players at the interval, highlighting not only Weghorst’s finishing but also the timing, variety and precision of Ørjasaeter’s service. The result offered Twente supporters plenty to celebrate and gave football fans a striking example of how a team can make the most of space, movement and a numerical advantage.
Red card changes the course of the match
The decisive shift came when Excelsior forward Nesto Groen was sent off. As he raised his leg, Groen caught Twente defender Robin Pröpper on the shoulder, prompting referee Erwin Blank to show a straight red card. Excelsior were left with ten players, and Twente quickly capitalised on the extra space.
Playing against a reduced defence allowed Twente to move the ball more freely and create dangerous openings, particularly down the left. The visitors’ response was immediate: just seven minutes after the dismissal, Ørjasaeter surged past his marker and delivered a precise cross into the penalty area. Weghorst beat Jan Plug to the ball and headed home to make it 1-0.
El Ahmadi was impressed by the quality of the move, especially the winger’s delivery. He noted that Ørjasaeter had used his left foot to produce a cross of unusual accuracy, suggesting the winger’s weaker side might be more effective than expected. The connection between the pair was already becoming a defining feature of the afternoon.
Teamwork produces a memorable second goal
Twente’s second goal was less about a single pass and more about the movement and understanding between several players. Daan Rots began the sequence by finding Weghorst, who cleverly flicked the ball with his heel into the path of Younes Taha. The striker then received possession again and played a first-time pass towards Ørjasaeter.
The winger laid the ball off for Weghorst, who had continued his run into a dangerous position. He finished the flowing move to extend Twente’s lead, completing a sequence that combined quick passing, intelligent movement and a touch of improvisation.
El Ahmadi described the goal as exceptional, pointing out that the quality came from the whole team rather than one individual moment. Weghorst’s involvement was particularly notable: instead of simply waiting for a cross, he linked play, created an opening and then arrived in the box to finish. That all-round contribution gave Twente a different dimension in attack.
Weghorst completes his first Eredivisie treble
Weghorst’s third goal arrived only minutes later, once again with Ørjasaeter providing the crucial delivery. The winger sent another cross into the area, and the striker brought it under control with a delicate touch before driving a powerful finish into the near corner.
The first touch drew comparisons to the technical control associated with Dennis Bergkamp, while El Ahmadi likened the finish to the style of Zlatan Ibrahimović. The references reflected the confidence and flair Weghorst showed in the moment. For a forward often recognised for his strength, work rate and aerial threat, the goal underlined his ability to produce a skilful finish when the opportunity arose.
El Ahmadi said Weghorst appeared to be enjoying a rare spell in which every chance seemed to fall his way. The hat-trick was his first in the Eredivisie, making the performance a personal milestone as well as a major contribution to Twente’s commanding lead.
Twente’s attacking depth adds to the spectacle
Weghorst and Ørjasaeter were not the only players to make an impact before the break. Thomas van den Belt and Daan Rots also found the net, giving Twente further evidence of the variety in their attacking options. Van den Belt’s composed little lob stood out as one of the half’s most eye-catching finishes, while Rots contributed both to the scoring and to the build-up for Weghorst’s second goal.
The spread of goals and assists matters for a side with ambitions across domestic and European competition. When several players can contribute, opponents have more threats to monitor and Twente become harder to contain. The performance also offered a useful confidence boost ahead of the club’s next fixture, a Conference League meeting with Pafos scheduled for November 6, 2026.
What the performance could mean for Twente
One emphatic half does not settle questions about a team’s form or season-long prospects, particularly when the opposition has been reduced to ten men. Still, Twente’s display provided encouraging signs. The team moved the ball with purpose, exploited the flanks and showed that Weghorst could influence play in more ways than simply finishing crosses.
Ørjasaeter’s four assists were equally significant. His ability to beat a defender and deliver accurately gave Twente a reliable route into the box, while his combination play helped create chances from open play. If that partnership continues to develop, it could become an important weapon in the club’s Eredivisie campaign.
For supporters assessing the next match prediction, this performance is a reason for optimism—but not a guarantee of another goal fest. The red card shaped the contest, and future opponents may defend more cautiously or deny Twente the same space. Even so, a confident Weghorst, an inventive Ørjasaeter and contributions from across the team give Twente several reasons to believe their attack can remain dangerous. Sunday’s first-half exhibition was a statement of potential, and one that will raise expectations for what comes next.
