NEC recover convincingly against Willem II from false league start
NEC hit back in style after their false start to the league season against Telstar. The Nijmegen side won 1-4 away at Willem II in round two of the VriendenLoterij Eredivisie. Dick Schreuder's team made a poor start, but after Adam Tahaui's opener in the 45+2nd minute they quickly pulled clear of the Tilburg side.
There was little sign of NEC dominance in the opening stages. Willem II threatened after five minutes through Nathan Tjoe-A-On, but Uriël van Aalst could not apply the finish.
NEC had plenty of the ball, yet struggled for a long time to break down the Tilburg defence. Dick Schreuder's side did not manage a first shot until the 35th minute, when Tahaui fired straight at goalkeeper Karst de Leeuw, while at the other end Jaden Slory tested goalkeeper Robin Crettaz.
Right on half-time, NEC still found the breakthrough. Tahaui headed in at the back post in the second minute of stoppage time and although Willem II claimed the debutant had pushed an opponent before his goal, the strike stood after a VAR check.
Following the break, NEC immediately stepped it up and Bryan Linssen was handed a huge chance almost at once, but the striker headed over. Willem II then had their chance to equalise through Slory, but Darko Nejašmic turned his effort behind for a corner.
Not long after that, NEC struck again and Tjaronn Chery made it 0-2. After an unfortunate moment in the Tilburg defence, the ball dropped at his feet, and the veteran rounded De Leeuw before rolling it into the empty net.
That ended Willem II's resistance and in the 65th minute Linssen removed any doubt. The attacker saw the ball drop at his feet after a scramble and smashed home, before substitute Kaj Sierhuis made it 0-4 two minutes later from a Chery assist. He caught the ball superbly first time out of the air.
Willem II did pull one back late on through substitute Thomas Verheydt, but the goal came far too late to trouble NEC. For the 34-year-old striker, who has a rich history in the Keuken Kampioen Divisie, it was a goal on his Eredivisie debut.
Van Aelst also struck the post for the home side, but that was it in North Brabant. NEC therefore record their first Eredivisie win of the season and erase the pain of the 1-2 defeat against Telstar in the opening round. Willem II, by contrast, have now suffered two heavy defeats in a row.
