Watch awkward moment ESPN journalist congratulates player on his perfect English.. not realising star from New Zealand

A DUTCH sports reporter was left red-faced after praising a player’s ability to speak England – despite him being from New Zealand.

Matt Garbett and his NAC Breda team-mates pulled off a stunning upset in their second game back in the Eredivisie last weekend.

Breda beat Dutch giants Ajax 2-1 at the Rat Verlegh Stadion just over a week after being battered by Groningen in their season opener.

Garbett lit the blue touch paper in the 58th minute and was interviewed by ESPN Nederland after the match.

The 22-year-old said of the minnows’ shock result: “Performances come down to the environment.

“And we got a good culture here building up and I’m hoping that we can continue here.”

“Thanks a lot,” the reporter replied. “And you speak good English.”

Rather than point out he comes from a country where English is the predominant language, the classy Garbett said: “Cheers, I appreciate it.”

Social media users, however, weren’t as kind, with one saying: “LMAO that is crazy.”

Another said with a laughing emoji: “Was the Kiwi accent not a dead giveaway?”

BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS

And another said: “This is wild.”

One remarked with a series of laughing emojis: “This Dutch journo praised NAC Breda’s Matt Garbett on his English.

“He’s from New Zealand.”

Another chimed in: “Shout out to the bloke on Dutch telly who congratulated Matt Garbett for being able to speak English.”

Victory over Ajax fired Breda – who finished seventh in the Dutch second tier last season – into tenth place in the Eredivisie table.

Breda boss Carl Hoefkens said of the historic win: “I think we can be very satisfied with the victory,

“A point was certainly well deserved. Ajax may have had possession of the ball, but that didn’t matter much for us in this match.

“It was important that we could inject at the right times and we did that.

“I am very satisfied with this victory.”