Go Ahead Eagles concluded the year with a thrilling 2-1 victory against NAC Breda, solidifying their seventh-place position in the Eredivisie standings. The Eagles, led by coach Paul Simonis, exhibited impressive tenacity, coming back from an early deficit thanks to two pivotal goals from the Edvardsen brothers.
The match, played at De Adelaarshorst, had fans on the edge of their seats from the outset. NAC, the visitors, stunned the home crowd by taking the lead just ten minutes after the kickoff. A poorly executed goal kick by Eagles' goalkeeper Luca Plogmann landed at the feet of Saná Fernandes, who seized the opportunity and unleashed a magnificent volley from distance, placing the ball perfectly out of reach for Plogmann and marking his place as the youngest Portuguese player to score in the Eredivisie.
Despite the early setback, Go Ahead created several promising chances throughout the first half. Oliver Antman narrowly missed scoring early on, which set the tone for what would be a challenging half for the Eagles. Although they dominated possession and carved out opportunities, they failed to find the back of the net before the halftime whistle blew.
Both teams entered the second half with renewed vigor, but it was Go Ahead Eagles who quickly turned the tide. After adjusting their strategy during the half-time break, the Eagles pressed forward, determined to equalize. The efforts bore fruit just 11 minutes after play resumed. A well-placed header from Mats Deijl found Victor Edvardsen, who struck fiercely, leveling the score at 1-1 with his shot rocketing high inside the net.
Four minutes later, cheers erupted again as Oliver Edvardsen scored his sixth goal of the season. After the ball deflected off a NAC defender, Edvardsen seized the moment and fired from distance, leaving NAC goalkeeper Daniel Bielica helpless. This goal not only clinched the lead for Go Ahead but also set Oliver apart as the first player to score over ten goals for the club within the calendar year since Harry Decheiver achieved the same back in 1995.
With the match now favoring Go Ahead, the Eagles pushed for more goals but found themselves defending against NAC's late-game surge. The visitors, desperate for an equalizer, stepped up their attack, but Go Ahead’s defense held firm. Plogmann made some pivotal saves, keeping the Eagles’ lead intact.
After the match, captain Mats Deijl expressed his satisfaction with the team's performance, stating, "We created many great chances, but I didn’t feel we had much control. After the break, we improved significantly and regained control of the match." Coach Paul Simonis shared Deijl's sentiments, stating he was delighted with the team’s ability to recover and end the first half of the season positively. Simonis remarked, "Finishing the first half with 25 points after such a poor start is something I’m very content with. It has been the most eventful and educational period of my coaching career, and I’m grateful for this talented group of players.”
With this victory, Go Ahead Eagles not only celebrated their third successive home win but also marked the end of 2024 on a high note. They will head off for the winter break with confidence, firmly establishing themselves as formidable contenders for the second half of the season.
