Champions League dream dies in Nijmegen
Out. Olympiacos lost 2–1 to NEC after extra time on Tuesday night and are eliminated from Champions League qualifying at the third round (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11) (12). The tie was balanced after last week's 0–0 in Piraeus, but NEC found a way through in the Netherlands (7) (8).
Emre Mor wins it, after his earring nearly stopped him
Emre Mor scored the goal that knocked your team out (2) (6) (10). But he almost never got on the pitch. His substitution was delayed for over three minutes because he was struggling to remove an earring, leaving NEC with ten men (3) (10) (11). Coach Dick Schreuder was furious. "I saw him thinking: just cut the whole ear off!" he said afterwards (3). Mor eventually came on and decided the tie.
Mendilibar: "NEC were just better"
José Luis Mendilibar did not hide from it. "NEC were just better," he admitted after the match (5). He also told Olympiacos fans not to lower their heads: "We knew the Europa League was there" (4). The message is clear: the European campaign is not over, but the Champions League door is shut.
Tadic and Linssen roll back the years
Dusan Tadic, 37, assisted Bryan Linssen, 35, for NEC's goal in the match (6) (8) (9). The two veterans combined for a milestone that Greek media noted grimly: the oldest duo to produce a goal in a European qualifier this century (8). Darko Nejasmic also ran the midfield for NEC, drawing praise from rival Dutch fans (12).
What comes next
Olympiacos now drop into the Europa League. Mendilibar framed it as a second chance (4). Domestically, the Super League opener is against Atromitos on August 22, ten days to regroup and refocus.
