Hugo Borst Praises Wout Weghorst After Stunning Four-Goal Performance
Wout Weghorst produced a performance difficult to ignore on Sunday, scoring four times as FC Twente thrashed Excelsior 9-0. The striker’s display earned praise from an unexpected source: Dutch journalist Hugo Borst, who admitted he was “not annoyed by Wout Weghorst for once” in his column for Het Algemeen Dagblad.
Borst has often been critical of the Netherlands international’s mannerisms and on-field behaviour. But one goal in particular changed the tone of his assessment. Weghorst’s second strike was the product of a rapid, inventive move, finished with the kind of composure and technique that can reshape a football conversation in an instant.
A Goal Worth Watching Again
The move began around halfway, where Weghorst collected the ball and used a backheel to keep the attack flowing. He advanced, received possession again and produced another backheel before combining with Sondre Orjasaeter. The sequence ended with Weghorst driving a left-footed shot into the far corner.
It was a goal built on quick thinking as much as execution. The backheels helped turn a promising counter-attack into a memorable piece of football, while the finish showed the striker’s ability to stay composed at the end of a fast-moving passage of play. Borst said he watched the goal 23 times, still wondering whether a critic could genuinely admire it.
“As a critic of Wout, you hope you saw it wrong,” Borst wrote, reflecting on the strike. “Because some things simply cannot be true.” His repeated viewing suggests the goal caught him off guard—not just because of its quality, but because it came from a player whose public image has often divided opinion.
Weghorst’s Four Goals Power Twente’s Rout
Weghorst’s second goal was the standout moment, but it formed part of a far broader contribution. His four-goal haul helped FC Twente complete a 9-0 victory over Excelsior, a result that turned an already productive afternoon into a statement performance.
For a striker, scoring four in one match is an obvious measure of impact. Yet the nature of this performance also offered a reminder that Weghorst can contribute more than physical presence and penalty-box pressure. The counter-attack goal displayed touch, awareness and coordination with a teammate—qualities that are sometimes overlooked when discussion focuses on his personality or playing style.
That distinction matters for supporters assessing a player over the course of a season. A single spectacular goal cannot settle every debate, and the scoreline does not by itself explain the full balance of a match. Still, performances like this can strengthen a forward’s confidence and give his team another attacking option: a player capable of finishing chances as well as helping create them.
Borst Sets Aside His Usual Criticism
Borst described the strike as a “miracle” and a “world-class goal,” while making clear that his admiration was unusual for him. He joked that he had expected Weghorst to thank his Creator, then added a pointed aside about his own disbelief in God. The humour reflected the columnist’s style, but the central message was straightforward: the goal impressed him enough to temporarily set aside his long-standing reservations.
He also noted that Weghorst’s familiar, exuberant expression did not irritate him this time. Nor did the striker’s past “strange antics” come to mind, including the widely discussed scenes involving Lionel Messi. Instead, Borst found himself enjoying the moment without filtering it through earlier controversies.
That reaction highlights how quickly sport can change the way a player is perceived. A goal does not erase a history of criticism, but an exceptional piece of play can interrupt it. For Borst, Weghorst’s performance created a rare moment in which the football took priority over the personality surrounding it.
Why One Moment Can Shift the Conversation
Football supporters often judge players through a mixture of results, style and character. Weghorst’s direct approach and visible emotions have made him a prominent figure, attracting both loyal backing and sharp criticism. Borst’s column captures that tension: the journalist did not suddenly rewrite his entire opinion, but he acknowledged that the quality of the goal deserved genuine appreciation.
There is also a useful lesson in the way the move unfolded. The backheels were not simply decorative tricks; they helped maintain momentum and keep the defence reacting. Orjasaeter’s involvement provided the link that allowed Weghorst to finish, showing how individual brilliance can depend on teamwork. The goal was memorable because its flair served the attack rather than stopping it.
For Twente, a 9-0 win and four goals from their striker provide plenty of encouragement, although the result should be viewed in context rather than treated as a prediction of what will happen in every upcoming fixture. The club’s next schedule includes a Conference League meeting with Pafos on November 6, 2026, followed by an Eredivisie match against Go Ahead Eagles on November 8. Those games will offer a different test, with new opponents and circumstances.
A Rare Moment of Unreserved Appreciation
Borst ended his column by suggesting that Weghorst’s past behaviour might, for a moment, have been forgotten—or even “cancelled out.” He concluded that he suddenly found the striker “very likeable, and nice.” It was a playful admission, but also a sincere response to a performance that made a powerful impression.
Weghorst’s four-goal afternoon will be remembered for the scale of Twente’s victory. The second goal, however, may linger longest: two backheels, a sharp combination with Orjasaeter and a precise left-footed finish. For Borst, it was enough to make a familiar critic pause, watch again and acknowledge that, sometimes, a moment of outstanding football can win over even the most sceptical observer.
