Vitesse had to settle for a goalless draw in the regional derby against NEC on Sunday. The team from Arnhem did not benefit from Oussama Tannane’s early red card.
Vitesse, which performed very inconsistently, was certainly not the favorite in the derby against mid-engine NEC in advance, but was helped in the saddle after 23 minutes. Tannane, who played for the team from Arnhem in the past, received a red card because he hit Kacper Kozlowski in the face.
Prior to that moment, Vitesse had a chance to score the opening goal via Million Manhoef, but after that the home team forced few opportunities despite the numerical advantage.
Understandably, NEC put the emphasis on defense and let Vitesse make the game. That went badly for the team of trainer Phillip Cocu; NEC keeper Jasper Cillessen was hardly tested.
After the resumption it became painfully clear again how much creativity Vitesse has lost compared to the past seasons. NEC rarely faltered and even got a nice chance at 0-1 from the switch via Souffian El Karouani. Kjell Scherpen saved his effort in the short corner.
In the final phase, Vitesse took plenty of risks in the hunt for 1-0, but Maximilian Wittek and Nikolai Baden Frederiksen, among others, were unsuccessful in completing.
The result, which will undoubtedly be experienced as a disappointment by Cocu, brings number fourteen Vitesse to fifteen points. That is only three more than number sixteen FC Volendam. NEC already played a draw for the tenth time in this competition and is in ninth place.
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