Eredivisie: NEC Snatch Late Equalizer Against Feyenoord in Thrilling Draw

NEC denies Feyenoord win with late goal

NEC and Feyenoord settle for a 1-1 draw as Danilo scores a 97th-minute equalizer, keeping the Champions League qualification battle tight in the Eredivisie.

NEC snatched a point in the 97th minute, denying Feyenoord a crucial win...

Feyenoord, managed by Robin van Persie, had looked set to win, but NEC's Danilo Pereira scored a dramatic equalizer, keeping the Champions League spots tight.

With Anis Hadj Moussa back in Feyenoord's starting XI and Raheem Sterling dropped for full debutant Tobias van den Elshout, the two sides started evenly as both NEC and Feyenoord created mere minor chances in the first 15 minutes.

Eredivisie top scorer Ayase Ueda broke the game open, showcasing his aerial prowess with a delightful header from Hadj Moussa's corner that put Feyenoord up one inside 20 minutes.

The hosts took over from there, but failed to break Feyenoord's lead as Ahmetcan Kaplan missed a header and Bryan Linssen failed to convert from the counter. 

After Ueda and Hadj Moussa failed to beat Gonzalo Crettaz to double Feyenoord's lead, NEC's Darko Nejasmic created more danger from a corner, but he, too, couldn't change the 1-0 scoreline in Nijmegen.

NEC pushed hard in the final 10, with Danilo Pereira getting a dream chance.

He received a friendly bounce but saw his shot fly over Wellenreuther's bar as time ran out.

Danilo got his revenge in the end, half-volleying a cross from Sami Ouaissa into Wellenreuther's bottom corner. The goal came in the 97th minute, and it was enough to keep NEC in the fight for second place.

😫#necfey pic.twitter.com/2Yp4pNmRz5

— Feyenoord Rotterdam (@Feyenoord) April 12, 2026

The draw means Feyenoord, who were second, are just one point ahead of NEC with four games to go. Feyenoord have a break next week, while NEC's focus shifts to the KNVB Beker final against AZ in Rotterdam on April 19th.