Tadić Haunts Utrecht as NEC Edge 5-Goal Thriller 3-2

NEC Nijmegen Outlast Utrecht in Eredivisie Classic

Dušan Tadić rolled back the years with a masterful brace as NEC Nijmegen edged Utrecht 3-2 in a breathless Eredivisie encounter that saw three goals in five second-half minutes. The 34-year-old Serbian, playing like a man possessed, delivered the decisive blow on 58 minutes just as Utrecht threatened an improbable comeback.

NEC Nijmegen’s First-Half Domination

The visitors struck first in the 34th minute when Kevin Kers latched onto Mitchel Bakker’s cross, his downward header bouncing viciously past Vasilis Barkas. Four minutes later, Tadić doubled the lead with a moment of pure class, collecting Deveron Fonville’s pass and curling a beauty into the far corner. Utrecht’s defence stood statuesque, their 49% possession yielding nothing but frustration.

Utrecht’s Spirited Fightback

Whatever coach A. Correia said at halftime worked. Yoann Cathline ignited hopes in the 56th minute, tapping home Ángel Alarcón’s low cross. The Stadion Galgenwaard erupted two minutes later when Dani de Wit volleyed in Nordin Amrabat’s cross – the Moroccan’s impact off the bench immediate. But parity lasted just 60 seconds. Tadić pounced on a defensive lapse, slotting coolly past Barkas to restore NEC’s lead.

NEC Nijmegen Weather the Storm

Utrecht threw everything forward, Amrabat earning a yellow card for a desperate lunge. Their 16 shots matched NEC’s total, but the visitors’ superior xG (2.31 to 2.1) told the story of cleaner chances. Goalkeeper G. Crettaz made three crucial saves, including a point-blank stop from Cathline, who later saw yellow for dissent as Utrecht’s frustration boiled over.

This was Eredivisie football at its chaotic best – a match that saw 35 fouls, 5 yellow cards, and substitutions that disrupted any rhythm. For NEC Nijmegen, it’s a statement win that lifts them up the table. For Utrecht, the search for consistency continues after a performance that promised much but delivered only heartbreak.

Key Moments

34′ ⚽ NEC Nijmegen — Kevin Kers (assist: Mitchel Bakker)

38′ ⚽ NEC Nijmegen — Dušan Tadić (assist: Deveron Fonville)

56′ ⚽ Utrecht — Yoann Cathline (assist: Ángel Alarcón)

58′ ⚽ NEC Nijmegen — Dušan Tadić

64′ ⚽ Utrecht — Dani De Wit (assist: Nordin Amrabat)