Olympiacos started the second half with a jolt. El Kaabi pounced at 46 minutes, finishing low past Gonzalo Crettaz. Up to that point chances were scarce, with a first half that featured only three total shots on target combined and NEC even hitting the woodwork once. The match tilted after the hour, though, as NEC’s possession grew and their wide deliveries began to bite.

The momentum swing accelerated at 70 minutes. Tadic advanced down the right, shaped a pinpoint cross, and Linssen met it at the near channel for 1-1. Then came a key decision: Kostas Fortounis was sent off in the 80th minute after VAR intervention, leaving Olympiacos to finish the tie with 10. NEC’s pressure deepened in extra time, and at 95 minutes Mor guided in the decisive strike after Sierhuis laid it off, capping a move that also involved Tobias Storm and Noe Lebreton earlier in the sequence. From there, NEC controlled tempo and territory to see out a deserved win.

The numbers behind a deserved home win

Across 120 minutes NEC led most attacking metrics. They had 16 total shots to Olympiacos’ 10, and a 7-2 edge in shots on target that mirrors the final scoreline. They also produced three big chances to the visitors’ two and converted two of them. Touches in the penalty area told a similar story, with NEC posting 32 to Olympiacos’ 18.

Possession finished 54 to 46 in favor of NEC, backed by a 603 to 505 pass advantage and superior accuracy at 457 complete to 350. Crosses were a separator, too. NEC hit 6 of 21 accurately, while Olympiacos landed just 1 of 25. Olympiacos actually recorded more final third entries, 121 to 71, but NEC’s work in the final third was cleaner, completing 122 of 182 actions there at 67 percent compared to the away side’s 103 of 191 at 54 percent. The balance of chance quality and execution leaned green and red.

Defensively, profiles diverged. Olympiacos racked up more tackles at 29 to 16 and more interceptions at 19 to 9, a marker of frequent defending in mid-blocks and low blocks. NEC, meanwhile, won more aerial duels at 57 percent, completed more dribbles at 13 of 23, and made their defensive third solidity count with 51 clearances to 29. Balša Popović’s five saves for Olympiacos kept the score tight, but it also underlined the pressure NEC created.

Game state and tactical trends

NEC’s game shifted after early injuries forced changes. Emre Mor replaced Sami Ouaissa on 30 minutes and Brayann Pereira came on for Philippe Sandler at 34, subtly rebalancing NEC’s right side. With Darko Nejašmić steering midfield distribution and Deveron Fonville progressive from the back, NEC built sustained possession in the second half. Tadic then became the reference point between lines, producing 7 key passes and an assist while attempting 12 crosses.

Olympiacos’ plan relied on direct out-balls and transitions. They attempted 123 long passes to NEC’s 80, with a slightly higher completion rate, and logged more entries into the final third. Yet their final ball never fully clicked, shown by the lone accurate cross all night. After Fortounis’ dismissal, the visitors were pushed deeper, and NEC exploited the extra space with controlled circulation and diagonal switches. In extra time, NEC won 65 percent of duels in the first period and generated four shots, two on target, which is exactly where the winner came from.

Match MVP: Emre Mor’s decisive cameo

Emre Mor earned the Sofascore Rating of 7.8 and Player of the Match. He played 75 minutes, scored the extra time winner, and led NEC’s resistance and thrust on the right. Mor finished with three shots, two on target, and 50 touches, adding one clearance and one block when NEC needed cover in transition. He won 10 duels, completed 3 of 5 tackles, and recovered the ball six times, a busy two-way shift that set the tone late.

With 18 ball carries and 67 metres of total progression, Mor repeatedly pushed NEC up the pitch. He also connected 17 of 23 passes, split evenly between halves of the pitch, and was involved in the winning move with clever positioning in the half-space. The goal itself was measured, a left-foot finish into the low centre after Sierhuis’ cushioned involvement. On a night when NEC needed end product and control, Mor provided both, which is why his Sofascore Rating led the board.

Other standouts and key contributions

Dusan Tadic was the creator-in-chief with a Sofascore Rating of 7.6. He delivered 7 key passes, a team-high 12 crosses with four accurate, and the assist for Linssen’s equalizer. His ball progression totals and calm choices in wide areas repeatedly unsettled Olympiacos. Bryan Linssen matched the moment up front, scoring once from three shots and winning aerials in a physical battle before making way late with a 7.5. Noe Lebreton’s 7.4 came from a blend of industry and incision in midfield, including 57 passes and a key pass, while Fonville and Nejašmić both posted 7.1 for steady work at the back and in buildup.

For Olympiacos, Balša Popović and Rodinei both posted 7.4. The goalkeeper’s five saves kept the tie alive for long stretches, and his long distribution sparked counter ideas. Rodinei was all-action at right back with eight tackles and 12 duels won, trying to stem NEC’s flank pressure. El Kaabi earned 7.1 for his goal and four key passes, a rare creative bright spot for a No. 9. The turning point remained the Fortounis red card at 80 minutes, which tilted the attritional phases and left Olympiacos short of outlets in extra time.

If you want to dive deeper into every player’s metrics and live momentum swings from UEFA Champions League qualifying, Sofascore has the full breakdown. From real-time player heat maps to every Sofascore Rating, it is the quickest way to see how a match like this was won.