Eredivisie
PEC Zwolle 1-3 NEC Nijmegen: Chery's brace sinks hosts in Eredivisie opener
Terence Chery scored twice from the penalty spot as NEC Nijmegen secured a commanding away victory in Zwolle.
PEC Zwolle's Eredivisie campaign got off to a disappointing start at home against NEC Nijmegen, who ran out 3-1 winners in a match dominated by penalties and a late strike. The visitors made the perfect start inside five minutes when Terence Chery converted from the spot to put NEC ahead early. Chery doubled the visitors' lead just before the half-hour mark with another penalty, leaving the home side struggling to find a response. PEC Zwolle managed to pull one back just before halftime through Koen Kostons, also from the penalty spot, offering a glimmer of hope heading into the break. The second half saw fewer clear-cut chances, though NEC remained dangerous on the counter. Their patience paid off in the 83rd minute when Peter Schuurs finished off a well-worked move, with Chery providing the assist to make it 3-1. Despite late pressure from the hosts, NEC's defense held firm, with goalkeeper and backline combining to limit PEC Zwolle's opportunities. PEC Zwolle's Olivier Aertssen was shown a yellow card in stoppage time, underscoring the frustration of the home side. Meanwhile, NEC's A. Kabar, D. Tadic, and T. Storm all received bookings in the latter stages as the visitors looked to protect their lead. The result leaves PEC Zwolle in 14th place with three points from three matches, while NEC Nijmegen sit in 11th with three points from two games. Referee J. Kooij had relatively little controversy to manage aside from the disciplinary issues in the closing stages. Both coaches will reflect on a match where set pieces played a decisive role, with all three first-half goals coming from penalties. For NEC, the win provides momentum heading into their next fixture, while PEC Zwolle must regroup quickly to address defensive lapses and missed opportunities. The 4-2-3-1 formation deployed by PEC Zwolle struggled to contain NEC's 3-4-1-2 setup, particularly in the opening hour. Dick Schreuder's tactical adjustments proved effective, allowing his side to control key moments and capitalize when it mattered most. Henry van der Vegt will need to rethink his approach if his side hopes to climb out of the bottom half of the table.