NEC distanced itself from FC Groningen by a large margin on Sunday afternoon. In the Goffert Stadium, after the fastest 3-0 lead in the Eredivisie since 2008, it eventually became 6-0. With five different goal scorers, a wonderful football afternoon for Rogier Meijer and his men.
NEC started the game energetically. Within four minutes, Vito van Crooij scored a penalty. Koki Ogawa, who scored two goals on Tuesday, capitalized on the great opportunity from eleven meters. Twenty minutes later, Ogawa did the same from almost the same spot: now it was a cross from Van Crooij that sent the net into the net via Ogawa.
NEC thus equaled the fastest 2-0 lead in the Eredivisie since 2016, but the cake was not over yet. Ten minutes later, Van Crooij stole the ball from goalkeeper Etienne Vaessen, kept an overview and served Sontje Hansen appropriately. The wing attacker, who played his 50th match for NEC, controlled the ball against the ropes: 3-0.
After the break, the Nijmegen team continued in the same vein. Vito van Crooij crowned his good performance with a goal. It was also the best goal of the afternoon. Hansen passed the ball, Koki put it back and Van Crooij headed in calmly: 4-0.
With the necessary substitutes on hand, NEC managed to reach 6-0. Sami Ouaissa, one of the freshmen, was first the winner after a nice cross from other substitute Basar Önal. Shortly before the end, substitute Thomas Ouwejan converted the second penalty of the afternoon. It was the first goal for the left wing defender in the employ of NEC
With the big victory, NEC crowns Marcel Boekhoorn’s 65th birthday week and the Nijmegen selection gives Ron de Groot a nice boost. NEC will take on RKC in Waalwijk on Saturday: kick-off at 9 p.m.
Score progression
5. Koki Ogawa 1-0 (pen.)
26. Koki Ogawa 2-0
32. Sontje Hansen 3-0
52. Vito van Crooij 4-0
74. Sami Ouai 5-0
86. Thomas Ouwejan 6-0 (pen.)
Setup NEC: Roefs; Pereira, Márquez, Sandler (46. Ouwejan), Verdonk; Sano, Rober (78. Darelas), Hoedemakers; Van Crooij (66th Ouaissa), Koki (78th Kento), Hansen (62nd Önal)
