NEC has started the 2023/24 Eredivisie season dramatically. Against Excelsior, Rogier Meijer’s team lost in the closing seconds in their own Goffert (3-4). The team from Nijmegen gave away a lead twice. Food for thought for the trainer.
NEC started the opening game expectantly and left the ball to Excelsior. Unlike last season, Meijer’s team tried to put more pressure on the opponent. The first chance, on the other hand, was for the team from Nijmegen. After a nice dribble from Sontje Hansen, he handed the ball to Lars Olden Larsen. The Norwegian could freely place the ball in the far corner, but did not do so enough, allowing Stijn van Gassel to save. Excelsior’s first real goal attempt was an immediate hit. Youri Baas was easily passed by Couhib Driouech and Excelsior’s right winger was able to give a low cross. That came at the feet of Nikolas Agrafiotis who shot the ball hard in front of Jasper Cillessen in the goal: 0-1. Not the start the Nijmegen residents were hoping for.
It was a blow to process for NEC and you noticed that in the players on the field. Excelsior collapsed after the goal and Meijer’s team seemed to have no idea. NEC created little and with combination football it was not possible to play through Excelsior’s defence. The recipe had to come from the flanks and Bart van Rooij understood that. The right back gave a measured cross to his buddy on the other side. Baas headed in the ball nicely and brought the score back to the same level.
The goal caused the tension to go down a bit with the Nijmegen team. Combining was a lot easier and NEC got a number of opportunities. Van Gassel had an answer to shots from Olden Larsen and Mees Hoedemakers, but it was a hit on attempt three. Sontje Hansen was free for the keeper through a pass from the new ’10’ Magnus Mattsson and did not fail. For example, NEC turned the game around completely within ten minutes and the team was able to take tea with a lead despite a very poor first half.
Same story as last year
It was striking that Meijer decided to turn the central duo after the break, so that Bram Nuytinck came to the center on the right and Calvin Verdonk on the left. Excelsior started brighter again after the break and the 2-2 did not come out of the blue. From a corner it was Casper Widell who was able to head in freely. NEC could start again. The Nijmegen residents did that with verve. The 3-2 came quickly after the 2-2 and this one also fell from a corner. Koki Ogawa, invisible until that moment, was the end station of the set piece and the Japanese headed in nicely.
The goal feast did not stop with that goal, because Excelsior came back for the second time. A low cross was tapped past Cillessen by Richie Omorowa: 3-3. After that goal, it was mainly Excelsior that really made the effort to get another victory out of the fire. They simply seemed to be fitter than the people of Nijmegen. NEC seemed lethargic and cramps hit a number of players from the home team. NEC tried one last time, but had to allow Excelsior to take the win. It was Oscar Uddenäs who shot Excelsior to victory from a counter: 3-4.
In brief
Competition procedure:
12′ 0-1, Agrafiotis
36′ 1-1, Baas
44′ 2-1, Hansen
53′ 2-2, Widell
61′ 3-2, Ogawa
73′ 3-3, Omorowa
90+8′ 3-4, Uddenäs
Number of spectators: 12.500
Referee: Lindhout
NEC setup: Cillessen; Van Rooij, Verdonk, Nuytinck, Baas; Hoedemakers (65′ González), Mattsson, Schöne; Hansen (54′ Tavsan (85′ Pereira), Ogawa (65′ Marques), Olden Larsen.
Setup Excelsior: Van Gassel; Horemans, Seymor (90′ Nieuwpoort), Widell, Zagré; Boss, El Yaakoubi, Hartjes; Lamprou (62′ Sanches Fernandes), Agrafiotis (62′ Omorowa) , Driouech (90′ Uddenäs).
Photos: Rob Koppers & Orange Pictures
