NEC failed to achieve European soccer within the ultimate of the play-offs on Thursday. At house, the Nijmegen crew gave up a 1-0 lead and the rating turned 1-2 for Go Forward Eagles. This ends a fantastic season for the quantity six within the Eredivisie.
The defeat was watched from the stands by Rogier Meijer. The coach was compelled to sit down there after his yellow card final week within the match towards Almere Metropolis FC and was changed by assistant coach Patrick Grevevaars. Bram Nuytinck, alternatively, served his suspension within the final spherical of the Eredivisie and thus returned to the guts of the protection on Thursday night.
The just about sold-out Goffert Stadium made it a spectacle when the gamers arrived, as has usually been the case this season. A big banner with the textual content ‘with the flag hoisted, full velocity forward’ was the beginning sign for the play-offs. But it was the visitors from Deventer who made essentially the most progress within the first half.
Even supposing the Nijmegen crew had essentially the most ball possession, the best alternatives have been for Go Forward Eagles. Jasper Cillessen, who defended NEC’s purpose for the hundredth time right now, needed to save photographs from Søren Tengstedt and Victor Edvardsen 4 occasions. As soon as a shot from the Swedish striker appeared too highly effective for him, however the put up got here to the rescue.
NEC discovered themselves in harmful positions plenty of occasions earlier than halftime, however all makes an attempt flew (excessive) over the enemy purpose. The visitors additionally got here out of the dressing room stronger within the second half. After Go Forward Eagles defender Joris Kramer headed onto the crossbar, the Nijmegen crowd had had sufficient and shouted the Grevevaars crew ahead: it had an instantaneous impact.
Within the 57th minute, NEC took the lead towards odds. A very good cross from Rober González was fantastically headed in by Kodai Sano, who was correct for the third sport in a row. The Japanese’s header was the house crew’s first try between the posts. Nevertheless, the sport picture remained unchanged after that: Go Forward Eagles have been essentially the most harmful and aimed for the equalizer. It got here fifteen minutes earlier than the tip: Mathias Ross miserably tapped Edvardsen’s cross into substitute Finn Stokkers and the ball disappeared into the purpose.
Issues then went from unhealthy to worse for NEC, which scored 1-2 within the 86th minute. Cillessen was utterly stunned by a treacherous free kick from Philippe Rommens. The midfielder’s cross was not touched by any participant from the away crew and out of the blue disappeared into the purpose after a bounce. With a ultimate offensive, NEC continued to hunt for the equalizer, however the Nijmegen tricolor by no means actually got here near a purpose.
This brings a incredible season to an abrupt finish. NEC workers all the time and in every single place traveled with us and we coloured each Dutch stadium red-green-black. With equaling the file variety of factors in an Eredivisie season, sixth place and reaching the cup ultimate, it was a season to not be forgotten. Solely the primary European ticket in sixteen years is lacking. We maintain dreaming, our time will come…
Rating development
57. Kodai Sano 1-0
77. Finn Stokkers 1-1
86. Philippe Rommens 1-2
NEC line-up: Cillessen; Pereira (85. Olden Larsen), Ross, Nuytinck, Verdonk; Hoedemakers (85. Schöne), Chery, Correct; González (73. Baas), Koki (73. Sow), Sano
