NEC Nijmegen kept their UEFA Cup hopes alive in dramatic fashion by scoring twice in the final six minutes to move into third place and leave Group D wide open.
Late drama
The Eredivisie outfit seemed to be on their way out of the competition after a second-minute header from Serghei Covalciuc put FC Spartak Moskva ahead in the Russian capital. With NK Dinamo Zagreb also losing to Udinese Calcio, Spartak looked all set to qualify for the Round of 32 until half-time substitute Jhon van Beukering levelled with just six minutes to go and Lasse Schöne completed the turnaround three minutes later.
Perfect start
It all started so well for Spartak, however, with Nikita Bazhenov's cross leaving Covalciuc with the simple task of heading in from close range. Bazhenov then tried his luck from distance in an attempt to double the hosts' lead, first forcing a save from NEC goalkeeper Gábor Babos and then sending an effort wide.
Babos save
At the other end, Schöne, Joël Tshibamba and Mostapha El Kabir all fired wide from inside the penalty area, chances which NEC were almost made to pay for missing as Babos turned Ivan Saenko's 20-metre effort round the post. Van Beukering replaced Tshibamba at the break and immediately signalled his intentions by drawing a save from Spartak goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa.
NEC chances
Opportunities were being created at both ends and Bazhenov thought he had made it 2-0, only for Babos to turn his strike away for a corner. Despite the lack of a second goal it seemed Spartak would take the points, especially when El Kabir and Youssef El-Akchaoui passed up opportunities for the visitors.
Schöne winner
Babos was continuing to excel, meanwhile, denying Aleksandr Prudnikov and then Roman Shishkin, saves which were to prove decisive as NEC turned the game around late on. First substitute Collins John set up Van Beukering to nod in and, with time ticking away, Schöne fired a left-footed shot low past Pletikosa.
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