NEC and FC Volendam shared the points on Sunday after a historically goal-rich final phase. The visitors took a 2-3 lead in Nijmegen in the 96th minute, but still had to accept the equalizer in the 98th minute: 3-3.
The spectacular denouement in the Goffert Stadium will go down in the history books: for the first time since the 1965/1966 season – when statistics started being kept – three goals were scored in injury time in the second half of an Eredivisie match.
For NEC, the meeting with FC Volendam was the first match after the abandoned away match against AZ. Bas Dost suddenly fell down on the field and was resuscitated on the spot. Further investigation revealed that the striker was a has inflamed heart muscle. Before the kick-off, supporters of both clubs supported Dost, who is distancing himself from football for the time being.
FC Volendam goalkeeper Mio Backhaus was responsible for the opening goal in the sixth minute with a blunder. The goalkeeper simply handed the ball to Elayis Tavsan, who enabled Koki Ogawa to score the 1-0. Moments later, the Japanese’s next goal was canceled due to offside.
There seemed to be no problem for the Nijmegen team until Tavsan was sent off with his second yellow card in the 38th minute. Just before that, Robert Mühren had already headed the equalizer against the ropes. At first the 34-year-old attacker found the bar in his way, but the rebound was too much for Jasper Cillessen, who had returned to the starting line-up.
Three goals in injury time
In the second half, Volendam took the lead through Milan de Haan. The nineteen-year-old midfielder shot beautifully into the top left corner.
Backhaus seemed to become the schlemiel of FC Volendam. The German goalkeeper committed an clumsy foul in his own penalty area in the ninetieth minute, after which the Nijmegen team were awarded a penalty. Magnus Mattsson took advantage of the opportunity at the start of injury time: 2-2. But the climax of the match was yet to come.
In the 96th minute, Volendam seemed to have come away with the victory in the ultimate final phase when Calvin Twigt made it 2-3 with a beautiful free kick in the intersection, but once again NEC’s ten team proved to be resilient. From a corner, Ogawa set the final score at 3-3 with his second of the afternoon. Referee Jochem Kamphuis then immediately blew the whistle.
The post first appeared on www.nu.nl