NEC Nijmegen vs V-varen Nagasaki

NEC dominated the early exchanges. Willumsson — operating as an attacking midfielder behind the front line — found space in the box and finished calmly to put the home side ahead in the 13th minute. The Icelandic international's goal was the only moment of note in a first half that otherwise lacked clear chances.

NEC came out sharper after the break and doubled their lead in the 50th minute. The goal was another well-worked attack, with the scorer unmarked in the box. Nagasaki responded immediately, pulling a goal back in the 54th minute to make it 2-1 and briefly threaten a comeback.

But NEC managed the game well in the final half-hour. The Japanese side's momentum faded, and the Dutch side wrapped up the win in the second minute of added time, scoring their third of the evening.

The second goal — scored just five minutes into the second half — was decisive. NEC went from a slender 1-0 lead to a two-goal cushion, forcing Nagasaki to chase the game. The Japanese visitors' immediate reply kept the match alive, but they could not find a second equaliser.

• W. Willumsson (NEC): Scored the opening goal in the 13th minute and was a creative force in the attacking midfield role. The 27-year-old Icelandic international joined NEC in February 2026 and has quickly become a key figure in pre-season.
• NEC defence: Held firm after Nagasaki's 54th-minute reply, conceding no further clear chances despite the visitors' brief spell of pressure.

NEC's 3-1 scoreline tells a story of efficiency rather than dominance. The hosts scored with three of their shots on target, while Nagasaki managed only one goal from their spell of pressure around the 54th minute. The absence of any cards reflects the friendly nature of the contest — both sides using the game primarily for fitness and sharpness.

For NEC, this is a solid pre-season result after a 3-2 loss to Anderlecht on 11 July. The Dutch side have further friendlies scheduled against Al-Fayha (18 July), Elversberg (25 July), and Sevilla (31 July) before the 2026-27 Eredivisie season kicks off in the weekend of 7-9 August 2026.

For V-Varen Nagasaki, this friendly marks the end of their European pre-season tour. The club secured promotion to the J1 League for the 2026-27 season after winning promotion from J2 in 2025, and will be preparing for their top-flight campaign.

A routine pre-season win for NEC against a Nagasaki side that showed glimpses of quality but lacked the sharpness to sustain a comeback. Willumsson's early goal set the tone, and the Dutch side's fitness edge told in the closing stages. For the betting audience, the key takeaway is NEC's attacking intent in pre-season — they have scored in every friendly so far.