NEC Nijmegen vs Telstar

Telstar left the Goffertstadion with all three points after a stunning first-half display saw them go 2-0 up against the run of play at half-time. NEC dominated the ball, but couldn't find a way through until it was too late, eventually falling 1-2 despite piling forward for long spells. The visitors soaked up wave after wave of pressure, defending resolutely from deep, and made their limited chances count in clinical fashion. NEC will be frustrated with how the afternoon went. They finished with 27 shots to Telstar's 8, and 13 corners to just 3, but couldn't turn that dominance into anything more than a single goal back. Telstar, by contrast, showed clinical edge when it mattered, and will take real confidence from grinding out a win on the road against a side that had them pinned back for large periods. For NEC, it's an opening-day defeat that raises early questions about game management.

NEC Nijmegen 1-2 Telstar was the final score at Goffertstadion, in a game where Telstar did enough across the ninety minutes to deserve the three points. Even without the extra share of possession, which finished 71% in favour of NEC Nijmegen, Telstar made the most of the chances that mattered and did enough to see the game out. The shot count told a similar story, with 27 attempts from NEC Nijmegen against 8 from Telstar over the course of the game. It was not always comfortable for Telstar, and NEC Nijmegen pushed for a way back into the game, but the result stood. Games like this can carry real weight later in the season, so this is a scoreline worth remembering. Below is a closer look at how the match broke down, statistically.