Michael Higdon is the hero of Nijmegen as his two goals gave NEC their first win of the season in a 2-1 victory over Heerenveen.

  • By Michael Bell
  • Follow Michael on Twitter

higdon bThe home side went into the match bottom of the table, and without a league win for eight months, but that weight has now been lifted thanks to Higdon.

Heerenveen had the first chance of the game when Kenny Otigba his the woodwork from a Magnus Wolff Eikrem corner.

NEC opened the scoring after 33 minutes, when Jeffrey Leiwakabessy’s cross from the left hand side was headed in at the back post by Higdon.

Early in the second half, Heerenveen stretched their lead, with Soren Reik’s pinpoint cross met Higdon again at the back post, and he slid the ball into the net. Cheers of “Only one Michael Higdon” rang around the stadium after the Englishman’s sixth goal of the season.

With five minutes left, Heerenveen midfielder Hakim Ziyech brilliantly curled a free-kick into the top corner to give the visitors hope.

The home side held on for the final moments, and the final whistle was met with scenes of celebrations from the relieved crowd. NEC are now off the bottom of the table, while Heerenveen fail to move into the top five, and remain ninth.




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