Ghana international Andre Ayew delivered a commanding performance as NAC Breda secured a crucial 1-0 victory over Heracles Almelo in a bottom of the table clash at Asito Stadium on Saturday, lifting his side out of last place in the Eredivisie.
The 36 year old forward played the full 90 minutes in the relegation six pointer, recording three shots with one on target and earning a match rating of 7.3 from statistics providers. Clint Leemans converted an 80th minute penalty to secure all three points for the visitors after Video Assistant Referee (VAR) confirmed a handball by Djevencio van der Kust inside the area.
Ayew operated actively around the penalty box throughout the match, attempting two shots from inside the area and one from distance while contributing significantly to NAC’s pressing game and link up play. The former Swansea City and West Ham United striker came closest to scoring late in the match when Heracles goalkeeper Remko Pasveer produced a stunning save to deny him.
The victory moved NAC Breda from 18th to 16th place with 19 points from 23 matches, four points behind 15th placed Go Ahead Eagles who occupy the final safety position. Heracles dropped to 18th place with 17 points, replacing NAC at the bottom of the standings.
NAC ended a winless run that stretched back to November 1 when they defeated Go Ahead Eagles 1-0 at home. The club had managed just six draws and multiple defeats in 15 matches across all competitions before Saturday’s breakthrough result.
Leemans struck the post from a free kick earlier in the second half before stepping up to take the decisive penalty with composure, firing into the top corner for his first goal since March 29, 2025. The Belgian midfielder controlled the match’s key moments and completed 41 accurate passes in addition to his match winning contribution.
Heracles created several threatening opportunities during the match, with defender Mike te Wierik hitting the crossbar from distance and forward Naci Unuvar having a goal disallowed for offside. Daniel Bielica made three saves for NAC to preserve the clean sheet that proved vital to securing victory.
The match was played under intense pressure with both clubs desperate for points in their battle against relegation. NAC had drawn 2-2 with league leaders PSV Eindhoven in their previous home match, demonstrating resilience despite their league position, but lost 2-0 to Excelsior before traveling to Almelo.
Ayew joined NAC on a free transfer in January, signing until the end of the 2025-26 season with an option to extend. The Ghana captain, who has earned over 120 international caps and scored 24 goals for the Black Stars, brings vast experience from nearly 600 club appearances across Europe’s top leagues.
Technical director Peter Maas stated at the time of Ayew’s signing that the forward’s experience and specific qualities could prove valuable in NAC’s survival fight. Saturday’s performance and result validated that assessment as NAC secured their first away victory of the calendar year.
NAC host FC Volendam next while Heracles travel to face Go Ahead Eagles, with both fixtures carrying significant implications for the relegation battle. The Eredivisie relegation places NAC at 16th with eight matches remaining in the campaign to secure safety.
