Unseen hero's early header anchors NEC Nijmegen against Go Ahead Eagles | OneFootball

Perr Schuurs headed NEC Nijmegen in front in the second minute, and the Eredivisie tie finished 1-1 against Go Ahead Eagles.

The defender attacked a corner with conviction, glancing Tjaronn Chery's cross into the bottom left (2.). It set the tone for the hosts, who leaned on his presence at both ends across a busy first half.

Schuurs kept asking questions from set pieces, seeing a right-foot attempt blocked and then dragging another effort wide from the left of the box (32.). He was later withdrawn at half time.

Numbers underlined his dual impact before the interval: three clearances, six recoveries and 16 of 18 passes completed. That blend of penalty box aggression and tidy distribution steadied NEC when the visitors pushed back.

Set pieces suited him throughout the opening exchanges, his near-post runs creating separation that brought the breakthrough, while his aerial work helped NEC manage Go Ahead Eagles' direct moments.

NEC visit Ajax next. The visitors host Sparta Rotterdam.