For the first time this calendar year, NEC did not retain three points in a home game. PEC Zwolle kept the Nijmegen team at 2-2 in the Goffert Stadium. Koki Ogawa was of great value to his team with two goals in the space of five minutes.
A big boost for trainer Rogier Meijer, who this week extended his contract with NEC by one year until the summer of 2025, was the presence of Dirk Proper. The 22-year-old midfielder was injured in the match against Sparta Rotterdam at the end of February and made his return to the starting line-up in the match against the Zwolle team. Proper was replaced by Rober Gonzaléz after more than half an hour of play.
Early setback
At that moment, NEC was trailing 0-1. Truly out of nowhere, PEC Zwolle took the lead after ten minutes in the Goffert Stadium. A Sunday shot from defender Thomas Lam flew behind Jasper Cillessen into the intersection. It then took a long time until NEC was able to score the first chance.
The two Japanese from the Nijmegen team were closest to the tying goal before halftime. PEC goalkeeper Jasper Schendelaar made a good save on a shot by Kodai Sano and also had an answer to Ogawa’s header from the subsequent corner kick. In the first half, which was often quiet due to the many fouls committed by the guests, Cillessen on the other side also twice stood in the way of a goal.
Record
NEC came out of the dressing room really fantastic for the second part. A perfect cross from González was headed behind Schendelaar by Ogawa this time. The striker’s goal is a historic one for the Nijmegen team: never before has NEC managed to score so many goals (59) in an Eredivisie season (the previous record was 57 goals in the 2010 – 2011 season).
Barely five minutes later the party broke out in the stands at the Goffert Stadium. With a converted penalty, Ogawa signed for his second of the evening and tenth of the season. While the supporters could no longer stop singing, NEC had to continue to watch out for the visitors, who came up dangerously on a number of occasions.
The Nijmegen team got away well a few times, but still scored the equalizer in the 68th minute. Odysseus Velanas hit hard after a short-taken free kick from Younes Namli. Meijer’s team stepped up their game in the hunt for victory. Tjaronn Chery and Bram Nuytinck made good attempts, but could not get the ball in.
Due to the draw against PEC Zwolle, the red-green-blacks drop to sixth place in the rankings, one point behind Ajax. All NEC players are now focused on the cup final against Feyenoord next Sunday (6 p.m.). The Nijmegen tricolor will attempt to win the first pine cone in club history in De Kuip.
Score progression
10. Thomas Lam 0-1
47. Koki Ogawa 1-1
52. Koki Ogawa 2-1
68. Odysseus Velanas 2-2
NEC lineup: Cillessen; Pereira, Sandler, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers (81. Sow), Chery, Proper (32. Gonzaléz); Sano, Koki, Hansen (64. Boss)
