Eredivisie: NEC Suffer Setback in UCL Push as Groningen Hold On for Victory

Groningen stun NEC 

NEC’s defeat to Groningen leaves them level with Ajax and FC Twente in the fight for third place, with their Champions League qualifying hopes now hanging in the balance.

Marco Rente and Tygo Land put Groningen 2-0 up before NEC pulled one back through Darko Nejasmic, but two late NEC goals were ruled out for offside in a frantic finish...

NEC Nijmegen’s hopes of securing a UEFA Champions League spot took a hit after a 2-1 loss to FC Groningen on Sunday.

The Nijmegen side had been leading the race for third in the Eredivisie, which earns entry to the third qualifying round of the Champions League. They sat a point ahead of Ajax and FC Twente, but their poor form since a 5-1 KNVB Beker final defeat to AZ in April continued.

Bryan Linssen appeared to spark the game into life in the 12th minute with a stunning volley into Etienne Vaessen’s top corner from the edge of the box, but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Instead, Groningen struck at the worst possible moment for NEC. Marco Rente headed in a precise cross from Younes Taha in the final seconds of stoppage time, giving the visitors the lead and throwing the battle for third wide open.

The hosts kept pressing after the break and made it 2-0 in the 51st minute when Tygo Land’s shot took a deflection and beat the keeper, piling more pressure on NEC’s Champions League hopes.

NEC responded by upping the tempo and chasing the result they needed to stay level with FC Twente and Ajax. Groningen, meanwhile, dug in to protect their lead, with a play-off spot already all but secured.

Strijd op het veld, sfeer op de tribunes!

Samen gewonnen. 💚🤍 pic.twitter.com/YppPULUsWs

— FC Groningen (@fcgroningen) May 10, 2026

Danilo thought he’d pulled one back for NEC but was denied by Thijmen Blokzijl. From the resulting corner, Darko Nejasmic finally got NEC on the board, giving the visitors a lifeline.

Sami Ouaissa and Başar Önal combined to briefly reignite NEC’s fightback, but Önal’s strike was chalked off after a VAR review ruled the Turkish-Dutch winger offside.

There was more offside frustration for NEC deep into stoppage time, when Youssef El Kachati’s apparent equalizer to make it 2-2 was also ruled out.