NAC Breda reached the second round of the TOTO KNVB Cup on Tuesday evening. The team of trainer Edwin de Graaf fell behind VVV-Venlo in the first half with a beautiful goal by Yannick Leliendal, but made up for that in the second company with an equally beautiful goal from substitute Thom Haye. In the end, penalties had to bring the decision, in which the team from Breda proved too strong.
Earlier this season, the game between NAC and VVV in competition ended in 2-2. On Tuesday evening, the team from Breda had to do without Haye, who started on the reserve bench due to groin complaints. The first pinpricks were handed out by the home team. A shot by Kaj de Rooij was barely blocked by a VVV defender, after which Ralf Seuntjens found goalkeeper Vito van Crooij’s legs in the short corner. The striker tried with a flaming shot on a pass from Boris van Schuppen, but was unhappy in the completion.
?? @VVV Venlo is 0-1 in Breda at halftime, Yannick Leliendal hits the mark in an unparalleled way! ?? ?? ESPN #?? #nacvvv pic.twitter.com/T5VkKRo0Kz
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) October 26, 2021
The initiative in the first act clearly lay with NAC, which, in the person of Van Schuppen, hit the post after half an hour of play. Not much later it happened on the other side. Leliendal steamed up on the left side of the field and scored effectively from a great distance in the left corner: 0-1. At the start of the second half, De Graaf brought in Odysseus Velanas, among others, and saw how his midfielder scored the equalizer after three quarters of the game. Released completely, however, he hit the fists of Van Crooij, who turned out to be a clear obstacle for the Breda team.
Although VVV mainly limited itself to defending, Jos Luhukay’s team was given the perfect opportunity fifteen minutes before the end to close the game. Joeri Schroijen took advantage of a clumsy loss of possession on the part of NAC and enjoyed a free passage towards Nick Olij, but had to watch as NAC’s goalie saved with his left arm. Olij also had a great save on a bet from close range by Sven Braken. NAC tried to force an equalizer with a final offensive and was rewarded via Haye, who had a copy of Leliendal’s goal: 1-1.
?? Thom Haye brings @NACnl in the final phase tied against @VVV Venlo with this peg in the intersection ?? ?? We are going to extend! ?? ESPN #?? #nacvvv pic.twitter.com/f0brPpN0GR
— ESPN NL (@ESPNnl) October 26, 2021
NAC also had the best chances in extra time. Haye’s shot missed the mark and a nice effort by substitute Moïse Adiléhou landed on the right post. When Velanas also saw his header stopped, penalties had to decide. NAC proved too strong in that regard. Brian Koglin and Kees de Boer became the schlemiel on the side of VVV by being the only ones to miss their penalty. Both times Olij was in the way.