NEC made the difference in the second act on Saturday evening against ten players from RKC Waalwijk. In an anything but high-quality match in the Mandemakers Stadium, NEC convincingly expressed the surplus situation after half-time in the score: 0-3.
NEC still had its hands full with RKC in the first company. Although Mees Hoedemakers was allowed to score three times from about twenty meters, the most danger really took place in front of Robin Roefs’ goal. The goalkeeper turned a few times, Kodai Sano blocked an attempt by the bottom of the Eredivisie at least as often.
Despite that, NEC still went into the dressing room with a cheerful feeling. That had everything to do with a stupid red card for RKC player Daouda Weidmann just before half time. The midfielder first stood head to head with Vito van Crooij and was late in a duel with Rober González one minute later.
Despite the surplus situation, NEC also had some difficulty with RKC in the second company. After more than an hour of play, it was again Koki Ogawa who broke the spell for NEC. He was alert for a corner that bounced off the post off the head of Rober González and scored his fifth goal in the last three games.
Six minutes later, Sami Ouaissa ended the game. The 20-year-old attacker controlled a cross from Brayann Pereira into the far corner behind goalkeeper Jeroen Houwen: 0-2 NEC! Iván Márquez did that trick again in the last minute, by nodding in a corner kick from Vito van Crooij.
The victory puts NEC in the left row and gives the Nijmegen team a good feeling heading into the international match. The Eredivisie will resume in two weeks with a home match against FC Utrecht. The kick-off on the 24th of November is at 12.15 pm.
Score progression
45+1. Daouda Weidmann red card
68. Koki Ogawa 0-1
74. Sami Ouai 0-2
90. Iván Márquez 0-3
Setup NEC: Roefs; Pereira (78. Lyratzis), Márquez, Sandler (61. Nuytinck), Verdonk; Sano, Rober (69. Ouaissa), Hoedemakers; Hansen (69th Önal), Koki (78th Kento), Van Crooij
