A valuable point, that is the result that PEC Zwolle gets from the visit to NEC in Nijmegen. The Zwolle team took the lead through Thomas Lam, conceded two goals just after halftime, but recovered thanks to a goal from Ody Velanas: 2-2.
Beautiful goal from Lam
PEC Zwolle had to do it in Nijmegen without the sick Eliano Reijnders and those who had been injured for some time. Nevertheless, PEC performed well against the cup finalist. In fact, in the tenth minute the Zwolle team brutally took the lead. Younes Namli had the ball on the edge of the penalty area and was unable to score. That’s why he decided to rely on Thomas Lam. Not a bad choice, because the defender shot the ball devastatingly behind Jasper Cillessen: 0-1.
Infringer important
Johnny Jansen’s men also fought hard in the remainder of the first half. Sometimes a bit too much, the Nijmegen audience thought. But due to the good defensive play, PEC barely conceded a chance. Kodai Sano forced Jasper Schendelaar into a great save, but the ball ultimately went wide via the keeper. From the corner kick, former Blauwvinger Philippe Sandler headed on goal, but Schendelaar also turned that attempt. Furthermore, PEC had the better chances, with attempts by Lennart Thy, among others.
Sad from the locker room
Immediately after the break NEC scored, Koki Ogawa got the ball behind Schendelaar. Shortly afterwards it was Ody Velanas with an excellent chance to make it 1-2 after a beautiful through ball from Namli, but he shot the ball straight at keeper Cillessen. That turned out to be extra bitter, because the home team was awarded a penalty on the counterattack. And that golden opportunity from eleven meters was taken advantage of by Ogawa.
Rehearsed
Velanas was important halfway through the second half, as he scored with a free kick from a well-rehearsed variation. Namli gave a touch wide, after which the Dutch Greek was able to shoot home: 2-2. The match fizzled out for a while after that, until the last fifteen minutes. Schendelaar had to take action twice after attempts by Tjaronn Chery and Bram Nuytinck and he also had an answer to Robert González’s effort. PEC Zwolle continued to survive until deep into injury time, but it was also survived with a lot of skill.
Next week is the cup final between Feyenoord and NEC, which means the competition will be on hold for a week. On Sunday, April 28, we will play Overijssels against Heracles Almelo at 12:15 PM.
NEC Nijmegen – PEC Zwolle: 2-2 (0-1).
Spectators: 12.540
Referee: Pérez
Yellow cards: Hoedemakers, Sandler (NEC Nijmegen), Velanas, Mac Nulty, Czyborra (PEC Zwolle)
NEC Nijmegen line-up: Cillessen, Pereira, Sandler, Hoedemakers (81. Sow), Chery, Hansen (64. Baas), Nuytinck, Ogawa, Sano, Verdonk, Proper (32. González)
PEC Zwolle line-up: Schendelaar, Van Polen, Kersten, Lam, Mac Nulty (87. Czyborra), El Azzouzi (86. Van der Haar), Krastev, Velanas, Namli (87. Fontana), Thy, Van der Water (77. Vellios)
Score progression:
10. Lam 0-1
47. Ogawa 1-1
53. Ogawa (penalty) 1-2
68. Velan 2-2
