World NewsHolman On Fire In UEFA Play-Off |
NEC Nijmegen gained a slender advantage after edging out 10-man FC Groningen in the first leg of their UEFA Cup play-off on Thursday.
Jeremain Lens scored the only goal of the game in the 71st minute, seven minutes after Gibril Sankoh's dismissal for two bookable offences.The two meetings between the sides in the regular Eredivisie season served up 12 goals, with each side recording a 5-1 home victory, but this fixture failed to offer the same level of entertainment.
The early signs were good, however, as NEC made a blistering start when Lens slid in to meet Jhonny Van Beukering's free-kick at the far post in the sixth minute, only to be denied by the upright.
But thereafter chances were at a premium and the next opportunity came just before the half-hour mark when NEC's Krisztian Vadocz headed over from close range.
Groningen's sole chance of the half followed, with Stefan Nijland drilling a 25-yard free-kick over the bar.
Lens could have broken the deadlock shortly before the break but his shot from an acute angle was saved by Groningen keeper Brian van Loo, and Brett Holman also threatened when his fierce shot from the edge of the box was deflected out.
The hosts continued to dominate after the break and an alert Bas Sidum capitalised on a defensive error in the box but crashed his shot on to the bar. The ball rebounded to Vadocz on the left of the area but he blasted over, much to the frustration of the home fans.
Sankoh, who was booked in the 35th minute for a challenge on Holman, was given his marching orders midway through the second half when he held Lens' shirt and the dismissal proved costly as NEC were in front seven minutes later.
Van Beukering marauded down the left before passing to Lens, who surged into the box and placed a low shot into the bottom right corner from 12 yards.
Holman could have doubled the lead in the 79th minute but he shot straight at Van Loo from a one-on-one position, and he was denied by the keeper again at the death when his ferocious long-range strike was tipped over.
The second leg takes place in Groningen on Sunday.
Copyright (c) 2008 Press Association
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