Gelderland derby prey for Vitesse after a duel with two faces


Sunday, February 27, 2022 at 2:07 PM• Mart Oude Nijeweeme • Last update: 14:26

The Gelderse derby between Vitesse and NEC fell prey to Vitesse on Sunday afternoon. The Arnhem team were 4-1 too strong at home thanks to goals from Danilho Doekhi, Alois Oroz and Thomas Buitink. Coach Thomas Letsch’s team turned a deficit after Mikkel Duelund took NEC ahead early in the second half. Eli Dasa was involved in three of the five hits. At the 0-1 he failed to clear the ball, after which he accounted for two assists not much later. Vitesse is more firmly in sixth place due to the victory. NEC remains ninth.

Vitesse had a euphoric week. It secured the eighth finals in the Conference League and will compete against the AS Roma of José Mourinho. There was enormous interest at both clubs during the last training session. With fireworks and loud singing, the Gelderse derby was celebrated, which was completed without away supporters after the disturbances earlier this season in Nijmegen. The visitors had to do without Wilfried Bony, among other things. The former Vitesse striker is still suffering too much from an injury and was not there. At Vitesse, Maximilian Wittek, Riechedly Bazoer and Adrian Grbic were missing.

NEC knew in advance that it was going to be a difficult afternoon, as the Nijmegen team last managed to leave Arnhem with a victory in 2012. Rogier Meijer’s team had a slight predominance in the initial phase, but was unable to express this in great opportunities. After fifteen minutes Vitesse pulled the game to itself. Doekhi headed over and Lois Openda was also unhappy in the finish. The biggest chance in the first half came through Matús Bero. The midfielder had the ball after half an hour before heading in, but aimed just over. NEC was especially sloppy with the ball and barely created anything.

As disappointing as the first half was, so excitingly began the second act. NEC took the lead after just four minutes. After a shot in the defense of Dasa, Duelund made an effective effort into the far corner. It was the Dane’s first league goal since September 30, 2018, when he scored on behalf of Dynamo Kiev. Vitesse quickly came up with an answer and completely turned the game around within four minutes. The equalizing goal came from the head of Doekhi, who headed in nicely from a corner by Dasa from the right side of the field. Three minutes later, Dasa recorded his second assist of the afternoon. This time, his corner was extended by Oroz.

Vitesse looked fresher and had opportunities to expand the score, but Openda was skilfully stopped by Rodrigo Guth. Twenty minutes before the end, NEC came out dangerous. Jonathan Okita tried to lob over Jeroen Houwen, but saw how Vitesse’s goalie made a clever save. The home team then closed the game. After a free kick by Dasa, NEC couldn’t get the ball away, after which Oroz took care of his second of the afternoon with a bicycle kick. The Arnhem team raised the margin to three in the absolute final phase. After new fumbling in the defense at NEC, substitute Thomas Buitink took care of the 4-1 on Bero’s advice.

No. Team m W G V † Pnt
1 Ajax 23 18 3 2 65 57
2 PSV 23 17 1 5 28 52
3 Feyenoord 24 16 3 5 34 51
4 AZ 24 15 3 6 19 48
5 FC Twente 24 13 6 5 8 45
6 Vitesse 24 12 4 8 -6 40
7 FC Utrecht 23 10 6 7 10 36
8 SC Cambuur 24 10 3 11 -10 33
9 NEC 24 8 7 9 -7 31
10 Fc Groningen 24 7 8 9 -5 29
11 Heracles Almelo 24 7 5 12 -6 26
12 sc Heerenveen 23 7 4 12 -13 25
13 Go Ahead Eagles 23 6 5 12 -16 23
14 RKC Waalwijk 24 5 8 11 -13 23
15 William II 24 6 3 15 -22 21
16 Fortuna Sittard 23 5 4 14 -27 19
17 Sparta Rotterdam 22 3 8 11 -18 17
18 PEC Zwolle 24 4 5 15 -21 17