New Zealand international midfielder Matt Garbett has helped his NAC Breda side win promotion to the Dutch Eredivisie despite losing their final play-off match 4-1.
In a nerve-wracking finish to their season, NAC Breda went into the second of their two-legged play-off series against Excelsior with a 6-2 lead.
But in the return match on Monday June 3, 2024, their rivals raced to a 4-0 lead, causing pandemonium at the Stadium Woudestein in Rotterdam.
However, Casper Staring pulled back a goal for NAC, giving his side a 7-6 win on aggregate and a spot in next season’s top tier of Dutch football.
Garbett (22) came into the game as a substitute in the 35th minute.
In May 2023, Garbett signed a two-year deal with Breda, and the club has an option to extend the contract for a third year.
He had initially been loaned to Breda by his parent club, Italy’s Torino.
Garbett grew up in Wellington and made his senior debut for Western Suburbs.
After spells with Eastern Suburbs and Team Wellington, he joined Swedish club Falkenbergs FF.
He signed for Torino after impressing at the Tokyo Olympics, and he became a key part of the All Whites line-up during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Results
Game played on Monday June 3, 2024 (NZT)
Play-off, second leg
Excelsior 4 (Troy Parrott 20′, 35′ pen, 50′, own goal 42′)
NAC Breda 1 (Casper Staring 58′)
Game played on Wednesday May 29, 2024 (NZT)
Play-off, first leg
NAC Breda 6 (Aimé Omgba 12′, Dominik Janosek 39′ pen, Jan Van den Bergh 42′, Martin Koscelnik 74′, Ellas Már Omarsson 78′, 90+4′)
Excelsior 2 (Lance Duijvestijn 25′, Troy Parrott 45+6′ pen)
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