NOS Football•today, 9:55 PM
View the summary of Excelsior – NEC
NEC still has every chance to finish fifth in the Premier League and thus force participation in the preliminary rounds of the Europa League. Rogier Meijer’s team recorded a 3-0 win over Excelsior, mainly thanks to two goals from Tjaronn Chery, and thus comes within two points of number five Ajax.
Due to the defeat of Excelsior, Almere City is definitely assured of another year of the Premier League, the difference with the Rotterdam team is eight points with two games left to play. Excelsior, which is now in a position that forces the team to play the play-offs at the end of the season, can only catch up with Heracles Almelo and RKC Waalwijk.
There were few chances in the first half. Bram Nuytinck was dangerous after almost half an hour of playing on behalf of NEC. He headed Chery’s cross hard towards the goal, but also straight to goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel who managed to turn the ball.
Five minutes before half time it was Excelsior that had a good chance. Lance Duijvestein sent Troy Parrott away with a nice ball, but the Irish striker shot the ball wide.
Roefs is goalkeeper
Duijvestein was dangerous again moments later, with a shot from just outside the penalty area, but he saw his shot smothered. The corner that followed was also threatening, but goalkeeper Robin Roefs was eventually able to grab the ball. Roefs replaced the ill Jasper Cillessen.
In the second, Excelsior started most threateningly. A cross from Arthur Zagre was difficult to convert into a corner. NEC was dangerous from a free kick after almost an hour of play. Van Gassel misjudged a sloppy ball from Calvin Verdonk, but recovered in time.
After an hour of playing, Chery broke the spell. The midfielder shot the ball from about 25 meters into the intersection with his velvet left hand.
Chery again
Five minutes later Chery and NEC scored again, this time the midfielder scored with the right. He shot in a nice cross from Youri Baas diagonally: 0-2.
The drama in Kralingen became even greater when Siebe Horemans had to be sent off the field after 70 minutes of play for a foul on Dirk Proper. Referee Bas Nijhuis initially did not see a red card, but after the intervention of the VAR, the referee still sent the Belgian away.
Celebrating trainers
In the end it was also 0-3 for Rogier Meijer’s team, who coached his hundredth Premier League match for NEC. Rober Gonzalez served nicely and he finished in a controlled manner.
With this he ruined Marinus Dijkhuizen’s anniversary party, because Dijkhuizen was also on the sidelines for the hundredth time at the club from Kralingen.
