NEC Nijmegen vs SV Elversberg

Both sides used the unusual 120-minute format to rotate heavily, with NEC fielding a completely different XI in each half and Elversberg making their first change at the 45-minute mark when Francis Onyeka — the 19-year-old Germany U19 captain signed for a reported €10 million — entered the game.

Elversberg started brightly despite early NEC pressure from corners. Noah Darvich curled just wide in the sixth minute, and Cole Campbell beat four defenders before striking the post from ten yards in the best chance of the opening hour. NEC's best response came in the 26th minute when new loan signing Clement Bischoff — making his unofficial debut — found himself free in front of goal but was denied by goalkeeper Nicolas Kristof.

Darvich had a shot blocked (27th) and Lukas Petkov fired over from 20 metres as Elversberg controlled the first period without finding the net.

The second half followed a similar pattern. Onyeka immediately showed his quality with a driving run that set up Darvich, who shot wide from 11 metres — his third clear miss of the afternoon.

Just as the game appeared destined for a goalless draw, a defensive error decided it. NEC centre-back Freek Entius misplaced a pass under pressure, allowing Elversberg to pounce and set up Pfeiffer for a simple close-range finish. Koki Ogawa had a late chance to equalise for NEC but shot over.

Entius's 89th-minute mistake was the sole defensive lapse in a game otherwise defined by solid organisation. The young defender's loose pass handed Elversberg the only clear-cut chance they needed after 119 minutes of largely controlled football.

• Noah Darvich (SVE): The creative hub of Elversberg's attack. Had three presentable chances — a curled effort just wide, a blocked shot, and a miss from 11 metres — but his movement and link play caused constant problems.
• Cole Campbell (SVE): The American winger produced the moment of individual brilliance in the first period, weaving past four defenders before hitting the post.
• Nicolas Kristof (SVE): Made a vital save to deny Bischoff in the 26th minute and commanded his area with authority.
• Clement Bischoff (NEC): The new arrival showed flashes of quality in his unofficial debut, creating NEC's best chance of the first half.

Player of the match: Luca Pfeiffer (SVE) — scored the only goal, though his total contribution was limited to that decisive moment.

The match was played over 120 minutes with full squad rotation, making traditional statistical comparisons unreliable. Elversberg created the clearer chances — Campbell's post, Darvich's three opportunities, and the winner — while NEC's best openings came from Bischoff's close-range effort and Ogawa's late shot over the bar. The 1-0 scoreline understates Elversberg's territorial advantage across both periods.

For NEC, this was their third pre-season defeat of the summer and their first without scoring since the 7-0 demolition of Al-Fayha on 18 July. Coach Dick Schreuder's side now face Sevilla at the Goffertstadion on 31 July in their final friendly before the competitive season begins. NEC will face Olympiakos Piraeus in the UEFA Champions League third qualifying round on 4 August.

For Elversberg, this was their fourth pre-season friendly as they prepare for their debut Bundesliga campaign. The win concludes a week-long training camp in Barneveld. Vincent Wagner's side have three more friendlies scheduled before the Bundesliga season begins. Tom Zimmerschied, David Mokwa, Frederik Schmahl, Raif Adam and Maurice Krattenmacher were rested with muscular issues.

A disciplined, professional performance from Elversberg against a NEC side that finished third in the Eredivisie last season. The Bundesliga-bound Germans controlled long stretches without their finishing matching their approach play, but Pfeiffer's late intervention ensured the training camp ended on a positive note. NEC's lack of cutting edge without their first-half starters will be a concern with the Champions League qualifier against Olympiakos just ten days away.