Twenty years on: how Wesley Sneijder shattered FC Groningen's Champions League dream
Exactly twenty years ago, FC Groningen and Ajax met in the play-offs for a place in the Champions League qualifying rounds. Groningen overturned a 2-0 deficit at home, but a goal from Wesley Sneijder — later found to have been offside — crushed their dream. Former defender Gibril Sankoh looked back on that fateful final.
Overturning a 2-0 deficit at home
The 2005/2006 season brought FC Groningen unexpectedly close to the pinnacle of European club football. In the play-off final for Champions League qualification, Ajax stood in their way. The first leg in Amsterdam ended in a 2-0 defeat, with goals from Markus Rosenberg and Angelos Charisteas. Yet Groningen did not travel back for the second leg without hope. Defender Gibril Sankoh, who had established himself as a key figure under manager Ron Jans that season, vividly recalls the mood in the squad. 'You have so much confidence: okay, you're coming to our place in a few days and we'll show you. We had a fantastic team that was adored by the supporters. Brilliant!'
Nevland and Silva put Groningen in the driving seat
In the return leg on 3 May 2006, FC Groningen were the dominant force from the very first whistle. Erik Nevland, Gijs Luirink and Mark-Jan Fledderus created chances in abundance, and just before half-time it was Nevland who headed in the deserved opener. Early in the second half, Bruno Silva doubled the lead with a thunderous strike that crashed in off the underside of the bar: 2-0, and the road to the Champions League qualifying rounds appeared wide open. Sankoh: 'We really started to believe in ourselves during that match. The confidence just kept growing.' The Euroborg was electric — and a historic upset seemed within touching distance.
Sneijder brings it all to an end
Then Wesley Sneijder struck. The Ajax midfielder fired home from distance to make it 2-1, which meant Ajax progressed to the Champions League qualifying rounds on the away goals rule. For Sankoh, the goal was a bitter blow. 'A fantastic strike from range. I was sick about it for the whole week. You try everything to block the shot, but there was not much I could do.'
With VAR, Groningen would have played Champions League football
What makes the pain even greater in hindsight is that Sneijder's goal should never have stood. Former referee Ben Haverkort, who officiated the match, admitted years later on FC Groningen's website that the goal was preceded by an offside. An Ajax player was standing in the path of the shot and blocked goalkeeper Bas Roorda's view — yet nobody had noticed it during or immediately after the match, including the assistant referees. 'With VAR, FC Groningen would have played Champions League football. Sneijder's goal would never have been allowed to stand. As the referee, I apologise retrospectively to everyone at FC Groningen,' said Haverkort, though with a wink. Sankoh's response is measured: 'Well, that doesn't do us any good now. We simply would have preferred to play in the Champions League qualifying rounds in this magnificent stadium in front of magnificent fans. We deserved more, especially in the first half. We should have been 2-0 or 3-0 up by then.'
Sankoh believes in the current FC Groningen's chances
Twenty years on, FC Groningen and Ajax meet again in the play-offs. Sankoh is far from pessimistic. 'Absolutely. Of course Ajax have quality, but looking at how they've played as a team this season, I'm certain Groningen has a chance.' The former defender is proud of his own part in that historic edition of the tie: 'It was incredible that FC Groningen came so close to Champions League football. I'm proud to have been a part of it.'
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Source: Via RTV Noord (GNews)
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