NAC Breda delivered a dominant 0‑5 friendly win over the Zundert selection on Saturday in Rijsbergen, wrapping up the second pre‑season duel under coach Carl Hoefkens. The Bredanaars started brightly, scored early and kept the pressure until the final whistle.

How did the match unfold?

NAC opened the scoring through Mohamed Nassoh, who calmly finished after a neat combination with Paul Gladon (0‑1). Soon after, Gladon doubled the lead from the penalty spot, marking his first goal in a NAC shirt (0‑2). After the break Hoefkens rotated several youth players; Pepijn Reulen added the third strike after a solo run (0‑3) and Elijah Ikpia extended the lead with a powerful long‑range effort (0‑4). The final nail was driven home by youth prospect Reinier Honkoop, who kept his composure to seal a 0‑5 result.

Which players stood out?

The match gave a stage to multiple talents. In addition to Nassoh, Gladon, Reulen, Ikpia and Honkoop, Dion Versluis, Anass Aachir and Inram Nazih earned minutes and came close to scoring. Kamal Sowah made his return to the squad, while Leo Greiml, Thomas Goos, Raul Paula, Moussa Soumano, Max Balard, Charles‑Andreas Brym and Boyd Lucassen missed out due to ongoing rehab.

What does this mean for the preparation?

The 5‑0 victory boosts the team’s confidence ahead of the final friendly against FC Eindhoven, scheduled for Wednesday 8 July at 19:00 in Sint Willebrord. NAC currently sits 17th in the Eredivisie with 29 points (6W‑11D‑17L) and a recent form pattern of DWLLD. The club remains 55 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven, while the defence has still conceded 58 goals.

How does this fit into the season?

Although the friendly carries no official points, the performance shows NAC Breda can be offensively threatening, a needed trait after a 3‑3 draw with AZ Alkmaar on 17 May 2026. With 35 goals scored and a –23 goal difference, the side is hunting for more consistency. The coming weeks will be decisive to stabilise form and narrow the league gap.