NEC's Christian Santos's brace sinks De Graafschap

NEC top scorer Christian Santos notched a brace as his side beat bottom club De Graafschap 2-0, with the visitors still waiting for their first three points of the season.

The home side came close early on as Santos saw his header saved and Todd Kane nodded his effort over the bar from the resulting corner.

NEC went in front after half an hour after a handball in the area and Santos converted the spot kick to score his seventh goal of the season.

Janio Bikel came close with a long-range effort for NEC in the second half but the shot never troubled Hidde Jurjus, who watched the ball sail over the crossbar.

The home side made it two with nine minutes remaining after some good passing play found Santos in the six-yard box and the forward nudged the ball home past Jurjus in the Graafschap goal.

Graafschap had their best chance in the final moments as Alexander Bannink was played through in behind the NEC defence but he could not get the ball past the goalkeeper Benjamin Kirsten.

The result leaves NEC in sixth while De Graafschap remain rooted to the bottom of the Eredivisie table, without a win so far this campaign.