NAC has not managed to stay in the Eredivisie. The team of coach Carl Hoefkens was 2-0 ahead against SC Heerenveen, but competitors Telstar and FC Volendam can no longer be overtaken. The match in Breda was finally stopped just before the end after fireworks were thrown onto the field again.
Before the match against SC Heerenveen, there was already a tense atmosphere around the stadium. Several banners were displayed at the main entrance, on which supporters demanded the departure of technical director Peter Maas.
With police buses, the Mobile Unit and police on horseback at the Rat Verlegh Stadium, it was clear that all kinds of scenarios were taken into account. Banners were also hung in the stadium addressed to the club management and technical staff.
Banners
From ‘Data according to NAC: good performance! Dates according to us: just relegation’ to ‘Hoefkens: to the limit and no further’. The fans are dissatisfied. Very dissatisfied, that became abundantly clear on Sunday. Some of the Breda supporters hope for a breath of fresh air on all fronts within the club: from the player group and technical staff to management.
That was not without reason. NAC had to perform a miracle during the match against Heerenveen to cling to a place in the Eredivisie. The people of Breda not only had to win, but also had to completely defeat Heerenveen to stay in the game.
On the field, NAC fought for its last chance and the team made a good impression playing football. Moussa Soumano was dangerous with a header and Kamal Sowah showed himself after fifteen minutes with a nice bang.
Outdone
SC Heerenveen was pushed back and, with the exception of one big chance, hardly managed to become dangerous. The Frisians were also trumped in terms of work ethic. The reward followed after 36 minutes: defender Boy Kemper scored beautifully: 1-0.
NAC could not immediately maintain the pace of the first half after the break. As a result, SC Heerenveen became increasingly dangerous. Goalkeeper Daniel Bielica first had to intervene when his own defender Rio Hillen almost surprised him with a lob. Shortly afterwards, the Polish keeper tapped Luca Oyen’s header from the top corner.
Torches
After that a lot happened in the Rat Verlegh Stadium. First, referee Sander van der Eijk temporarily stopped the game because torches were thrown onto the field.
When the players were back on the field, it quickly became 1-1 by Dylan Vente, but that goal was disallowed for offside on the advice of the VAR. On the other hand, the referee gave a penalty that was used by Kemper: 2-0.
In the last minutes, flares were again thrown on the field and the referee had no choice but to stop the game again. It meant a definitive strike and it also became clear that relegation is a fact for the people of Breda. NAC will disappear from the Eredivisie next season.
NAC reports on X that the match will be played at a later time. This would mean that the Heerenveen players would have to travel to Breda again to complete the remaining eight minutes of the match.
