Groningen gained revenge for their KNVB Cup exit by hammering NEC Nijmegen 5-2 at the Euroborg.
- By Michael Bell
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The two teams met in the cup midweek with NEC coming out as surprise 1-0 winners thanks to a Soren Rieks goal. However from the start it was clear that Groningen were looking for revenge as they dominated early on.
Michael de Leeuw opened the scoring on 14 minutes with an emphatic finish at the back post, before Filip Kostic made it 2-0 ten minutes later with a curled finish.
On 27 minutes Groningen scored a bizarre third goal as Maikel Kieftenbeld’s ball forward was air kicked by defender Van Eijden and flew into the net.
Four minutes into the second half De Leeuw netted his second of the game with a stunning back heel finish on the turn from close range.
NEC then started a revival as Michiel Hemlein fired into the corner, before Alireza Jahanbakhsh made it 4-2 on 63 minutes and it appeared NEC could make a comeback.
However Groningen found their fifth goal with twenty minutes left, and it was Michael de Leeuw once again finishing from close range to complete his hat-trick.
Groningen remain 6th going into the winter break, while NEC remain rooted to the bottom, and will need recruits in January if they are to avoid the drop.
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