Intro:

Vitesse dropped two points in the Dutch Eredivisie title race as they were held to a 1-1 draw by the league's bottom side, NEC, on Sunday.

Script:

Vitesse started the day level on points with defending champions Ajax at the top of the Dutch Eredivisie standings, but had a chance to go clear - at least for a couple of hours - when they hosted NEC on Sunday.

The visitors started the day bottom of the Eredivisie standings, so it came as little surprise when Vitesse opened the scoring on the half-hour mark.

Christian Atsu delivered a perfectly-placed corner kick into the NEC penalty area and defender Dan Mori climbed highest to head in.

NEC were unfortunate to go into the break a goal down and continued to impress in the second half and went close again in the 62nd minute.

After defender Rens van Eijden won back possession in midfield, the ball was played forward to Christoph Hemlein, who crossed into the box.

Vitesse's Jan-Arie van der Heijden's attempted block nearly caused a horror moment for the captain but it bounced against the near post and out of play.

Yet NEC took their chance nine minutes later though when they scored a deserved equaliser.

Hemlein again found acres of space on the right wing and when van der Heijden failed to clear the resulting cross, Higdon fired into the net to level.

Vitesse had a chance to steal all three points in added time, but 'keeper Karl-Johan Johnsson's reactions to block Kelvin Leerdam's header and NEC sealed a deserved 1-1 draw.

While they remained bottom of the standings - now level on points with RKC Waalwijk - Vitesse went top, although Ajax can go two points clear when they visit Go Ahead Eagles on Sunday.