NAC Breda takes over top spot of Eredivise

Nov 7, 2008 - 10:43 PM By PA SportsTicker

Matthew Amoah bagged a late brace to earn NAC Breda a 2-0 victory over De Graafschap and send them clear at the top of the Eredivise.

The Ghana forward struck twice in the final 16 minutes as NAC opened up a three-point gap over AZ Alkmaar and Ajax.

The visitors could have enjoyed a rather more comfortable afternoon though as they created a host of chances.

Kees Kwakman fired wide after Edwin de Graaf chested Amoah's cross down to him and then sent a header off-target from Kurt Elshot's ball in to the middle.

De Graafschap threatened briefly with Leon Hese's effort which went over the bar, while they also had a penalty appeal waved away when Oost went down in the area under pressure from Elshot.

Those were, though, rare moments of promise for De Graafschap, who posed even less of an attacking threat after the break.

Home keeper Erik Heijblok was called on to block an Amoah shot after defender Joost Volmer's unwittingly diverted the ball into his path with a sliding tackle.

NAC's dominance finally told in the 74th minute when Amoah rose above the defenders to head home Joonas Kolkka's left-wing cross from almost on the goalline.

It now appeared just a question of how many NAC would score and Tommie van der Leegte almost made it two.

The lively Amoah stormed down the left and crossed for Ellery Cairo to lay the ball back to Van der Leegte, whose fine curling effort hit the left post.

Amoah sealed the win in stoppage time when he turned into the area, took the ball past Rogier Meijer and drove a shot into the left corner.