N.E.C.’s woes in Amsterdam continued as they were handed a 4-1 defeat at the hands of the defending champions Ajax in match-day twenty-two of the Eredivisie. The result extends the Nijmegen’s side losing streak to three of which they have not breached the opposition’s goal during said time and further raises the concern of relegation once again, whilst Ajax continues its pursuit of successful defending its championship in a highly congested top of the table.

Coming off the disappointing loss to Roda JC, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor summoned Pavel Čmovš in for Zoltán Szélesi but soon found hopes for points disappear. In recent play Ajax has had problems converting on opportunity but in front of their home fans against N.E.C. they would show a diamond cutter’s precision. After an early assault served notice, Ajax went in front 1-0 at the fourth minute as Siem de Jong carved out space to the right of the area away from Kevin Conboy before sending a slide-rule provision to the back post that Dmitri Bulykin side footed into the net. Like petrol onto the flames Ajax doubled the margin some three minutes later as a corner from the right say Siem de Jong out jump Bram Nuytinck to head the ball to the back post where Jan Vertonghen thumped it off his chest and into the net. Midway of the half Ajax drove a nail into coffin as twenty-one year old Aras Özbiliz (Արազ Օզբիլիզ), who recently declared his intention of playing for the Armenian national side, split the N.E.C. defenders with a sublime through ball for Dmitri Bulykin who poked this second goal of the young day past ‘keeper Gábor Babos. Four minutes past the half-hour the former Dynamo Moscow man Dmitry Bulykin succumbed to a hamstring injury, forcing Ajax manager Frank De Boer to call upon Nicolás Lodeiro as an emergency striker. The hosts continued to press but without a doubt eased back on accelerator with N.E.C’s lone offering coming at the fortieth minute but Leroy George’s effort from the edge of the area was foiled by ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer.

At the re-start, Mr. Pastoor searched for inspiration with the additions of Melvin Platje and John Goossens for Género Zeefuik and Leroy George but it was clearly Ajax’s day. As with the start of the contest, Ajax looked faster out of the gate and effectively announced the result was fait accompli at the fifty-seventh minute when Siem De Jong slipped unmarked past the N.E.C. defenders to nod a corner from left into the net. Down by four, an unwarranted mark on ‘keeper Gábor Babos who was otherwise left alone to deal with Ajax’s advance, N.E.C. show admirable spirit as they began to carve out a series of noteworthy openings and certainly made the final half-hour entertaining. Seizing upon a defending blunder by Ajax, Rens van Eijden leapt high at the back post to head his first goal for N.E.C. to cut the margin by three however that would be as close as it would get. The Nijmegen side continued to battle but following a sublime stop by Gábor Babos the final whistle sounded with Ajax earning a comfortable 4-1 victory.

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N.E.C.’s march up the table was halted by high-flying Ronald Koeman-led Feyenoord with a 2-0 defeat at Goffertstadion in week twenty of the Eredivisie.

Coming off a short week with Thursday evenings clash against PSV in the KNVB Beker, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor knew his forces had their work cut out for them. Excluding an unexplainable stumble to VVV the Rotterdammers ploughed through Ajax last week and would be keen to avenge their 5 November loss to N.E.C. as they continued their storybook turnaround under manger Ronald Koeman.

After brilliant work by the grounds keeping crew to clear snow from the pitch, Mr. Pastoor made two changes from his mid-week line-up as he ushered in Nathaniël Will and John Goossens in for Zoltán Szélesi and Leroy George. Quick to the whistle, Feyenoord broke the deadlock at the sixth minute as Otman Bakkal’s effort breached Gábor Babos’ goal. Following the early mark, chances proved to be a rare sighting on either end of the pitch through to the break, with the exception of Gábor Babos later securing the one goal deficit via a top shelf stop.

Needing great attacking pulse at the re-start Mr. Pastoor summoned Leroy George in for John Goossens and true to form the twenty-four year old attacker made a measurably mark with pace and venom. However N.E.C.’s efforts were quickly dug a deeper hole as coming at the forty-seventh minute Guyon Fernandez lead a swift assault on the left, playing a clever one-two with scoring virtuoso John Guidetti before deftly sending the ball over the sprawling Gábor Babos. Down by two, the N.E.C. tactician called upon Melvin Platje as an extra striker for Nick Van der Velden and while the hosts began to carve out openings, the final third proved to be rough seas. At the seventy-second minute N.E.C. were in prime position to halve the margin as the ball bounded to Ryan Koolwijk ten metres out but Feyenoord ‘keeper Erwin Mulder managed to swat the effort to safety. With Stef Nijland now in for Lasse Schøne, N.E.C. poured forward in search of a way through but following a late added-time effort from Leroy George, as well as a superb stop by Gábor Babos on Sekou Cissé, the match concluded 2-0 in favour of Feyenoord.

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In an exhilarating encounter, highly flying Eredivisie leaders PSV squeezed past a valiant N.E.C. 3-2 at a frigid Philips Stadion in the quarter-final of the KNVB Beker.

Entering the day, PSV were clear favourites but Alex Pastoor’s side made the short trip south with an upset in mind. Making a single change to his line-up to defeated ADO on Sunday, with Rens van Eijden in for Pavel Čmovš, the visitors were quickly pushed on their heels with a venomous assault by PSV. Not quite five minutes into the affair, a vicious free-kick to the right of the N.E.C. area was parried away by Gábor Babos only see Belgium international Dries Mertens latch onto the rebound and rifle into the roof of the net from ten metres. N.E.C. narrowly missed hitting back immediately with the mercurial Género Zeefuik but ten minutes later the contest was squared

courtesy of Nick van der Velden. After a turnover in the PSV end, Género Zeefuik slid the ball out to the Lasse Schøne on the left who after navigating around the ‘keeper saw his effort roll tantalizingly close to the line before being cleared off by Marcelo. However quick to the step Nick van der Velden brought N.E.C.’s travelling supporters to their feet as his powerfully drove the clearance effort into the net from an acute angle. With the contest level, N.E.C. showed confidence against their hosts but fell behind four minutes shy of the break as Ola Toivonen played architect with a perfect provision into the box for Tim Matavž to score from near the spot. A scant minute a quick counter saw Jeremain Lens dispatch the ball to Kevin Strootman with the twenty-one year old midfielder doubling the margin with a low effort to opposite bottom corner of the net. The wide open goal fest continued as a minute into added time a cross from the right was parried out by the PSV goalkeeper only to see Lasse Schøne deliver a booming volley into the net from just outside the area.

Coming out after the re-start N.E.C. showed little fear in search of the equaliser but as the score indicates none was forthcoming. Following a curious none penalty call after Nick van der Velden was hauled down in the area, Mr. Pastoor summoned Melvin Platje and is quickly becoming his trademark the young striker displayed a sublime touch and vision around the goal. With twelve minutes remaining in regulation, Leroy George set up shop on the right of the area before lofting a cross into the area for Melvin Platje. Despite being well marked and with his back to the goal, with a keen sense of the ‘keeper off the line a smidgen he deflty flicked

the ball only to see it land on the roof of the net. N.E.C. continued to show ambition but failing to find the leveller, with the final whistle PSV claimed the 3-2 victory.

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Coming off their euphoric victory over bitter rivals Vitesse, N.E.C. continued its ascendancy with a composite 2-0 triumph over ADO at Goffertstadion. With the result, Alex Pastoor’s side lodge their fourth successive victory in league and cup competition and find themselves in a two-way tie for tenth with Heracles Almelo in the Eredivisie at the conclusion of match day nineteen.

With a single change from last week’s winning line-up, twenty-one year old centre-back Pavel Čmovš for Rens van Eijden, N.E.C. went on the attack from the opening whistle. Eight minutes into the contest Género Zeefuik played through Lasse Schøne and the Danish international quickly set the ball past ADO goalkeeper Gino Coutinho for the one-goal advantage. Only nine-minutes later the margin was doubled as Gábor Horváth was adjudged a penalty for bringing down Género Zeefuik in area to which Lasse Schøne dutifully drove the ball in from the spot. Though ADO were in clear advantage of ball possession, their efforts lacking venom and following a last ditch challenge culled Lasse Schøne’s chance for a third goal the match went to the break with N.E.C comfortably in front 2-0.

Coming out after the break the complexion of the evening had decidedly turned as N.E.C. turned its focus to cull the visitor’s hopes and claim the victory. Maintaining a well disciplined stance, the hosts did well to limit chances and true to form, when called upon veteran ‘keeper Gábor Babos could not be beaten. At the seventy-second minute, Mr. Pastoor summoned John Goossens for Leroy George, with Melvin Platje entering for Género Zeefuik quickly thereafter as the hosts maintained a resolute defensive stance. The final stages saw ADO continue to pry for an opening but after Ryan Koolwijk made way for Rémy Amieux and five minutes of added time the final whistle sounded with N.E.C. laying claim to the 2-0 victory.

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N.E.C. kicked off the second-half of the Eredivisie campaign with superb 1-0 victory over rivals Vitesse at the GelreDome in another chapter of the heated “De Gelderse” Derby. The result pushes the Nijmegen side eight well above the relegation zone and revitalises hope for a top half of the table finish and potential berth on the European stage.

Following a difficult opening half of the year that saw his side seem to run out of synch, yet show flashes of fine pedigree, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor knew Sunday’s derby could prove to be the launching ground for their resurgence. Yet with a victory drought in Arnhem that stretched some forty-two years the task would require not only passion ever so typical of the bitter rivalry but masterful tactical plan. From the victory over VVV prior to the break Mr. Pastoor called upon Krisztián Vadócz and the mercurial Leroy George for John Goossens and Abdisalam Ibrahim and summoned his charges with disciplined plan to patiently absorb pressure and wait for a countering opportunity. After an appropriate tribute for Vitesse legend Theo Bos grappling with the throes of cancer, the early stages saw chances sparse though the midfield battle embodied the spirit of contest with no ball left unchallenged. Following a probing effort from Marcus Pedersen that was dutifully stopped by N.E.C. number one Gábor Babos and Nick van der Velden teasing the goal with a close miss the match went to the break deadlocked.

At the restart, Vitesse showed purpose and direction as they launched forward but as N.E.C. orchestrated their tactical plan to perfection with any notable effort snuffed out by Gábor Babos. Six minutes shy of the hour the N.E.C. tactician called upon Nathaniël Will for Zoltán Szélesi and after the Nijmegen goalkeeper denied Alexander Büttner and Jan-Arie van der Heijden it was time for Leroy George to step up to centre stage. Coming with a quarter-hour remaining in regulation a corner from the right saw Vitesse goalkeeper Piet Velthuizen make two top notch stops before the rebound came to Leroy George where he promptly lashed the ball to the right side of the net. In dire need of the leveller the hosts launched forward but once again Gábor Babos proved to be their undoing with yeoman’s work. At the eighty-first minute Rémy Amieux entered for the goal scorer with Navarone Foor coming Nick Van der Velden shortly thereafter as N.E.C. continued its drive towards victory. Though Rémy Amieux narrowly missed adding to the margin, N.E.C. was resolute in defending and after four minutes of added-time the final whistle sounded with the winless drought put to rest.

Jumping over the barriers to throw his shirt to the faithful, Leroy George was then joined by his team-mates in a moment that not only speaks well of N.E.C.’s hopes for the second-half of the campaign but the state of football in Eredivisie.

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N.E.C. brought its four match winless skid to an end with a critically important 2-0 win over VVV-Venlo at Goffertstadion in match day seventeen of the Eredivisie. With the result the Nijmegen side earn a crucial three points in their bid to stave off relegation and move five points above Graafschap and now level with Utrecht at the fourteenth spot.

Coming off the loss to Twente, N.E.C. was balancing calm optimism with a fine quality first half display against the high-flyers with an outright need for victory against troubled VVV. From his most recent line-up, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor made two changes, first with Bram Nuytinck welcomed back to the starting fold along with Rens Van Eijden for Pavel Čmovš and Nathaniël Will. Quick to the whistle, N.E.C. showed attacking venom with John Goossens posting a booming effort before the quarter-hour that was smartly denied by the outstretched VVV ‘keeper Wilko de Vogt. However it was not long until N.E.C. broke deadlock with John Goossens, serving up a stunning free-kick five minutes shy of the half-hour. From distance the twenty-three year old struck a sublime left-footed effort that tailed away from the ‘keeper and into the corner of the net to give the hosts they would not relinquish. N.E.C. continued to pressure but after seeing a Lasse Schøne denied they took the one-goal advantage to the break.

At the re-start, Mr. Pastoor ushered Navarone Foor in for Nick Van der Velden but the complexion of the match changed decidedly at the fifty-third minute when Bram Nuytinck was given his early exit orders with a red-card for obstructing Yannick Wildschut who was clear in on goal. The N.E.C. tactician quickly shuttled in Krisztián Vadócz for youthful attacker Género Zeefuik but with the personnel advantage, VVV turned up the heat. Howeveras he has so often case veteran goalkeeper Gábor Babos served N.E.C. without flaw with a series of stops including a brilliant denial of Maya Yoshida, formerly of Nagoya Grampus, header of Barry Maguire’s set piece. With twelve minutes remaining in regulation time Melvin Platje entered for Lasse Schøne and it was not long thereafter the match was effectively fait accompli. Coming via another well placed set-piece, John Goossens rifled the ball to the back of the net and without further incident the final whistle sounded with N.E.C. laying claim to a 2-0 victory.

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N.E.C., despite a valiant effort, fell 2-0 to high-flyers Twente in Enschede. With the result, the “Tukkers” sit third in the Eredivisie race whilst Alex Pastoor’s side are two points and a spot above De Graafschap in the relegation zone.

Coming off last weeks heroic effort against Groningen, Mr. Pastoor made a single change to his line-up with Hungarian international Zoltán Szélesi making his starting debut for Rens Van Eijden. Quick to whistle, N.E.C. showed early promise with Género Zeefuik seeing a chance from high probability range stopped by Twente goalkeeper Nikolay Mihaylov. After seeing Gábor Babos wall-up the N.E.C. goal with efforts from Nacer Chadli, Lasse Schøne flirted giving the Nijmegen side with a tantalizing chance from inside the area. The visitors continued to be the more likely of the sides to score but with Nikolay Mihaylov digging in to stop Género Zeefuik and Nick van der Velden the contest when to the break with the deadlock intact.

At the re-start host manager Co Adriaanse ushered in Marc Janko for Emir Bajrami with the N.E.C. tactician calling upon the veteran leadership of Krisztián Vadócz for Ryan Koolwijk six minutes shy of the hour. With chances sparing in a tight midfield battle, rising star Luuk de Jong latched onto the ball before firing an unstoppable drive from just outside the area to give Twente the lead they would not relinquish. Down by one, last week’s hero Melvin Platje was added for Nick Van der Velden with twenty-three minutes and was immediately a menace, narrowly missing the leveller and otherwise being a constant threat. N.E.C was prying open chances but critical stage defending by the hosts maintained the disadvantage until hope for a comeback was snuffed out at the seventy-third minute as Luuk de Jong provided the ball to Nacer Chadli slotted it professionally into the net from ten metres. With N.E.C.’s final tactical change Navarone Foor entered for Género Zeefuik but for remaining time the evening played out to the hosts advantages without need of added-time the final whistle sounded with Twente laying claim to the 2-0 victory.

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Despite a valiant effort by their hosts, Ajax erupted in the second-half to claim a 3-0 victory over N.E.C. at Goffertstadion in match-day fourteen of the Eredivisie. With the result, N.E.C. rests a point above Graafschap in the relegation zone whilst the defending champions are level with Feyenoord at the fourth spot.

From last weeks loss to Roda, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor made three to his starting eleven with John Goossens, Abdisalam Ibrahim and Género Zeefuik entering for Krisztián Vadócz, Leroy George and Cayfano Latupeirissa. His counterpart, Frank De Boer, made a single change to his mid-week Champions League line-up that played Olympique Lyonnais to a draw with the highly promising nineteen year-old Ruben Ligeon for Gregory Van Der Wiel. The early stages saw N.E.C. comfortably control Ajax with the few wandering efforts that did make in through absorbed with ease by host goalkeeper Gábor Babos. To the delight of the faithful, N.E.C. started brightly with the Amsterdammer ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer thwarting Nick van der Velden via John Goossens’ cross from the left. The hosts continued to show promise Nathaniel Will firing a menacing effort wide before Ajax began to show a greater attacking pulse but otherwise the contest went to the break with only the most modest of chances and the deadlock intact.

After the break, the wheels quickly came off N.E.C.’s hopes as at the fifty-third minute Vurnon Anita’s effort took a fortuitous deflection off Rens van Ejden towards the net with Miralem Sulejmani guiding the ball over the line. With the lead, Ajax seemed more comfortable in protecting the lead as opposed to mounting an advance had to survive a strong series of threats from N.E.C. after the hour mark, particularly from set-pieces. At the seventy-fourth minute, after Ajax ‘keeper Kenneth Vermeer went down to injury following a collision, Jasper Cillessen donned his mitts to take the spot between the woodwork and was richly received by the N.E.C. faithful in the return to his former home. However, the match was effectively fait accompli with twelve minutes remaining as Miralem Sulejmani notched his second of the day as coming via Theo Janssen’s corner on the left, the ball rattled off Abdisalam Ibrahim and straight onto the path of the Serbian international who quickly shuttled it into the net. Though N.E.C. made things interesting with a quick advance from the handiwork of Leroy George, Ajax increased its margin with a hint of mastery from eighteen year-old virtuoso Davy Klaassen. In his first appearance in the top-flight, barely one the pitch for thirty seconds, the teen latched onto the ball from the right and from inside the area ripped a booming effort into the net. Without further incident the match concluded with Ajax claiming a 3-0 victory over N.E.C.

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N.E.C.’s return from the international break ended in disappointment as the Nijmegen side fell 2-1 to Roda JC in week thirteen of the Eredivisie at Goffertstadion. With the result, N.E.C. sits fifteenth in the table, four points above De Graafschap in the relegation zone and now look ahead to next weeks clash against Ajax.

With two consecutive victories under their belt, N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor maintained the same starting eleven that had done so well against Feyenoord in the most recent contest. The opening half was spirited as both sides were not shy going forward with Nick van der Velden sending a notable effort wide of the woodwork and with the final touch was lacking the contest went to the break with deadlock intact.

After the break, N.E.C. seemed to fall back a step with Harm Van Veldhoven’s men beginning to set to the tone. Quickly after the re-start veteran Davy De Beule, ex of Beligium’s Koninklijke surged into the area but he as well was unable to finish, this from point-blank range, however it was not long until the Kerkrade side opened the scoring. Coming seven minutes shy of the hour the highly promising Mitchell Donald showed his playing making skills with a intelligent counter attack up the centre of the pitch run before playing the ball to Sanharib Malki on the left side of the area, who then sent a low effort from ten metres to the opposite corner of the net. In search of the leveller Mr. Pastoor added attacking inspiration in the form of Stefan Nijland for Cayfano Latupeirissa six minutes shy of the hour and with chances rare, Melvin Platje for Nick Van der Velden not long thereafter. At the seventy-fourth minute Roda doubled its advantages as Jimmy Hempte’s free-kick from the right took a peculiar high deflection off the wall to the back post where Wiljan Pluim volleyed the ball off the bar and into the net. Melvin Platje gave hope to the faithful moments later as Stef Nijland’s effort from twenty-two metres on the left took a slight deflection before spilling from the ‘keeper’s mitts, with the twenty-two year then showing his predatory skills by driving rebound into the net from an acute angle. N.E.C. mounted a formidable charge for the equalizer but it was not forthcoming and Roda claimed the full three points with a 2-1 victory.

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In an impressive performance, N.E.C. ended its recent slump with a 3-1 victory over Utrecht at Goffertstadion in match-day eleven of the Eredivisie. With the result the Nijmegen side move a point ahead of De Graafschap in the relegation zone ahead of next week visit of Rotterdam to face Feyenoord.

Entering the day N.E.C. manager Alex Pastoor was desperate to find the right touch to end the six-game losing slump that additionally has seen his club scoreless in over seven hours of league play. Coming off the last weeks encounter with ADO Den Haag the N.E.C. tactician made four changes to his starting eleven with Kevin Conboy, Nathaniël Will, Nick Van der Velden and Cayfano Latupeirissa in for Bram Nuytinck, Stefan Nijland, Melvin Platje and Dammyano Grootfaam. To the delight of the home supporters N.E.C went in front at the third minute via a dreadful miscue of Utrecht goalkeeper Roberto Fernández that saw Kevin Conboy latch onto the gifted ball before sending to Lasse Schøne for the professional finish. Only ten minutes later Leroy George displayed his vast talents as he accepted the ball from Nick van der Velden before charging down the right past Michael Zullo cutting back as he neared the by-line and scoring from an improbably acute angle. Up by two, N.E.C. continued to press but saw Utrecht ‘keeper Roberto Fernández make up for his early blunder with a series of fine stops

Opportunities slowed after the break with chances becoming more sparing and three minutes past the hour Mr. Pastoor called upon Hungarian international Zoltán Szélesi for Nathaniël Will as N.E.C. went about the task of securing the result. With fourteen minutes in regulation time the match was fait accompli as Leroy George’s free kick rasped off the bar before striking the ‘keeper and bounding into the net. Two minutes later Jacob Mulenga added a consolation goal for the visitors from the spot after Pavel Čmovš was adjudged a penalty. N.E.C. continued to shine for the balance of the day with Navarone Foor notably impressive after entering late and with the final whistle laid claim to the 3-1 victory.

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