Vitesse overcome NEC in tight encounter to leapfrog opponents in league table

Vitesse have moved into fifth place in the Eredivisie with a 1-0 victory over NEC, who drop to sixth, courtesy of a second-half Valeri Qazaishvili strike.

Denis Oliynyk had the first chance of the game after six minutes when a Qazaishvili through ball released him beyond NEC's defence but the midfielder dragged his effort wide.

Kevin Diks was unlucky not to break the deadlock in the 34th minute as NEC keeper Benjamin Kirsten made a close-range save to keep out the defender's goalbound header.

Minutes after the restart, Qazaishvili scored the game's only goal as a Kelvin Leerdam pass found the attacking midfielder in the box.

The Georgia international made room for a shot which he curled around NEC captain Rens van Eijden into the far-right corner of the goal, leaving Kirsten with no chance.

The second period produced few further goal chances with NEC's best opportunity to equalise coming in the 87th minute through Wojciech Golla, though the defender was unable to direct a free header on target.

The two teams switch positions in the league table following the result.