Match report

Utrecht Defeats NEC Nijmegen 3-1 in Eredivisie Showdown

NEC Nijmegen
NEC Nijmegen
1–3
FT
Utrecht
Utrecht
Feb 11, 2026

Utrecht emerged victorious over NEC Nijmegen with a convincing 3-1 win, securing three crucial points in their Eredivisie campaign. Utrecht's early goal by A. Alarcon set the tone for an impressive performance that saw them maintain control throughout most of the match despite some late pressure from NEC Nijmegen. Key moments included goals by G. Zechiel and Y. Cathline, which effectively put the game out of reach before D. Nejasmic narrowed the gap with a consolation goal for NEC.

Key Facts

  • • Utrecht's A. Alarcon scored in the 5th minute to take an early lead.
  • • G. Zechiel doubled Utrecht's lead just before halftime in the 45th minute.
  • • Y. Cathline extended Utrecht's advantage with a goal in the 49th minute.
  • • D. Nejasmic scored for NEC Nijmegen to make it 1-3 at the 59th minute.

Lineups

NEC Nijmegen

Formation: 3-4-2-1

Starting XI

  • 1 G. Crettaz (G)
  • 14 E. Dasa (D)
  • 3 P. Sandler (D)
  • 4 A. Kaplan (D)
  • 25 S. Ouaissa (M)
  • 23 K. Sano (M)
  • 6 D. Nejasmic (M)
  • 11 B. Onal (M)
  • 10 T. Chery (F)
  • 20 N. Lebreton (F)
  • 30 B. Linssen (F)

Substitutes

  • 22 J. Cillessen
  • 2 B. Pereira
  • 5 T. Ouwejan
  • 7 V. Misidjan
  • 8 I. Hansen-Aaroen
  • 9 Danilo Pereira
  • 15 J. Willems
  • 18 K. Ogawa
  • 19 W. T. Willumsson
  • 24 D. Fonville
  • 34 Y. El Kachati
  • 71 D. Proper

Utrecht

Formation: 4-2-3-1

Starting XI

  • 1 V. Barkas (G)
  • 23 N. Vesterlund (D)
  • 40 M. Didden (D)
  • 24 N. Viergever (D)
  • 16 S. El Karouani (D)
  • 27 A. Engwanda (M)
  • 21 G. Zechiel (M)
  • 77 A. Alarcon (M)
  • 20 D. de Wit (M)
  • 10 Y. Cathline (M)
  • 18 A. Stepanov (F)

Substitutes

  • 25 M. Brouwer
  • 33 K. Gadellaa
  • 3 M. van der Hoorn
  • 5 E. Adiele
  • 8 C. Bozdogan
  • 11 J. Karlsson
  • 15 A. Blake
  • 17 E. Demircan
  • 38 O. Agougil
  • 46 J. van Ommeren
  • 53 N. Viereck

Timeline

  1. Utrecht
    5' Utrecht Goal · Normal Goal
    A. Alarcon · Assist: G. Zechiel
  2. NEC Nijmegen
    25' NEC Nijmegen Card · Yellow Card
    Sami Ouaissa

    Foul

  3. Utrecht
    32' Utrecht Card · Yellow Card
    M. Didden

    Foul

  4. NEC Nijmegen
    45' NEC Nijmegen Card · Yellow Card
    P. Sandler

    Argument

  5. Utrecht
    45' Utrecht Goal · Normal Goal
    G. Zechiel · Assist: A. Stepanov
  6. Utrecht
    49' Utrecht Goal · Normal Goal
    Y. Cathline · Assist: S. El Karouani
  7. Utrecht
    56' Utrecht subst · Substitution 1
    Off: A. Stepanov · On: Jesper Karlsson
  8. NEC Nijmegen
    59' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 1
    Off: P. Sandler · On: D. Fonville
  9. NEC Nijmegen
    59' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 2
    Off: D. Nejasmic · On: Y. El Kachati
  10. NEC Nijmegen
    59' NEC Nijmegen Goal · Normal Goal
    D. Nejasmic
  11. NEC Nijmegen
    60' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Sami Ouaissa · On: Danilo Pereira
  12. Utrecht
    62' Utrecht Card · Yellow Card
    Jesper Karlsson

    Foul

  13. NEC Nijmegen
    73' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 4
    Off: N. Lebreton · On: K. Ogawa
  14. NEC Nijmegen
    82' NEC Nijmegen subst · Substitution 5
    Off: B. Linssen · On: W. T. Willumsson
  15. Utrecht
    82' Utrecht subst · Substitution 2
    Off: A. Alarcon · On: M. van der Hoorn
  16. NEC Nijmegen
    89' NEC Nijmegen Card · Yellow Card
    Ahmetcan Kaplan

    Argument

  17. Utrecht
    90'+1 Utrecht subst · Substitution 4
    Off: A. Engwanda · On: O. Agougil
  18. Utrecht
    90'+2 Utrecht subst · Substitution 3
    Off: Y. Cathline · On: A. Blake

Match Stats

Stat NEC Nijmegen Utrecht
Fouls 6 16
Pass Accuracy 84% 56%
Offsides 0 1
Red Cards — —
Total Shots 24 11
Corners 5 0
Total Passes 651 215
Yellow Cards 3 2
Blocked Shots 7 2
Shots on Target 7 5
xG 1.99 1.78
Shots off Target 10 4
Possession 76% 24%
Goals Prevented 0 0
Accurate Passes 546 121
Shots Inside Box 9 8
Saves 2 6
Shots Outside Box 15 3

Key Match Notes

  • ▸ Utrecht's early goal by A. Alarcon in the 5th minute set a fast pace that put NEC Nijmegen under immediate pressure.
  • ▸ The addition of two more goals by G. Zechiel and Y. Cathline within minutes before halftime effectively sealed Utrecht's victory, making it difficult for NEC to mount any significant comeback.