New Zealand international midfielder Matt Garbett could be playing in the top tier of Dutch football next season after helping his NAC Breda side to the brink of promotion.
After finishing eighth in the Dutch second-tier competition, Breda have been the wild card in end-of-season play-offs to decide which promotion to the Eredivisie.
Now, Garbett (22) and his club are one game from clinching promotion.
In a two-legged play-off against Rotterdam’s Excelsior, Brada won the first leg 6-2 at home.
On Monday June 3, they head to Rotterdam for the second leg.
In the first leg, Breda were helped by two red cards shown to Excelsior’s Lance Duijvestijn (38′) and Arthur Zagré (72′).
Garbett was credited with an assist for Breda’s sixth goal in the rout.
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.
Main photo: Matt Garbett … could be playing in the Eredivisie next season.
Watch the match highlights
Result
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)
Fixture
Game to be played on Monday June 3, 2024 (NZT)
Play-off, second leg
Excelsior v NAC Breda
Stadium Woudestein, Rotterdam, 4am (NZT)
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