Did it deliver?
NEC Nijmegen secured a comfortable 2-0 victory at Excelsior with clinical finishing that contrasted sharply with their hosts' wastefulness in front of goal. The visitors controlled proceedings with 55% possession and superior passing accuracy (82% vs 76%), while creating double the dangerous attacks (58 vs 29). Bryan Linssen broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark with a close-range finish after Excelsior goalkeeper had denied Gyan de Regt moments earlier. Başar Önal sealed the points in the 71st minute with a well-taken effort into the right corner, assisted by Sami Ouaissa's precise through ball. Despite Excelsior matching NEC's five shots on target, they could only convert one big chance while missing another crucial opportunity, highlighting the difference in quality between the sides on the day.
Excelsior
NEC Nijmegen
NEC Nijmegen•MidfielderFouled by Ahmetcan Kaplan of N.E.C.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Excelsior won a free kick on the right wing.
Danilo from N.E.C. attempts an attack, heading the ball from the center of the box, but Stijn van Gassel from Excelsior makes a save in the top left corner. The assist came from Tjaronn Chery with a cross.
N.E.C. is awarded a corner after Lewis Schouten concedes it.
Substitution for N.E.C.: Ahmetcan Kaplan replaces Deveron Fonville due to injury.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Deveron Fonville of N.E.C.
Mike van Duinen from Excelsior missed a header from the center of the box. The assist was provided by Irakli Yegoian.
Noah Naujoks from Excelsior won a free kick in an attacking position.
Substitution for N.E.C.: Brayann Pereira replaces Eli Dasa.
Substitution for N.E.C.: Danilo comes on for Bryan Linssen.
Substitution for N.E.C.: Dirk Proper replaces Basar Önal.
New attacking attempt. Gyan de Regt from Excelsior takes a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it's saved by goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz from N.E.C. The assist comes from Derensili Sanches Fernandes.
Foul committed by Mike van Duinen of Excelsior.
Darko Nejasmic from N.E.C. won a free kick in defense.
Sami Ouaissa from N.E.C. misses a chance with a left-footed shot from outside the box that goes high and wide to the left. Noé Lebreton provided the assist.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Ilias Bronkhorst from Excelsior.
Substitution for Excelsior: Mike van Duinen replaces Lennard Hartjes.
Substitution for Excelsior: Simon Janssen replaces Arthur Zagré.
Fouled by Lewis Schouten of Excelsior.
Basar Önal from N.E.C. won a free kick on the left wing.
Missed chance. Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Excelsior shot with his left foot from the center of the box.
assist: Sami Ouaissa
Goal! N.E.C. leads 2-0 against Excelsior. Basar Önal scores with a right-footed shot from the center of the box into the right corner, assisted by Sami Ouaissa's through ball.
New attacking attempt. Gyan de Regt from Excelsior takes a left-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it's saved by N.E.C. goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz. The assist was provided by Ilias Bronkhorst.
Corner awarded to Excelsior after Gonzalo Crettaz concedes.
Corner awarded to Excelsior after Gonzalo Crettaz concedes.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Excelsior attempts an attack with a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the right corner by Gonzalo Crettaz of N.E.C. The assist came from Noah Naujoks.
Handball committed by Basar Önal of N.E.C.
N.E.C. is awarded a corner after Stijn van Gassel concedes.
Corner awarded to N.E.C. after Stijn van Gassel concedes.
Substitution for Excelsior: Irakli Yegoian replaces Emil Hansson.
Gyan de Regt from Excelsior won a free kick in an attacking position.
Gyan de Regt from Excelsior won a free kick in the attacking area.
New attacking attempt. Gyan de Regt of Excelsior heads the ball from the center of the box, but it is saved in the right corner by Gonzalo Crettaz of N.E.C. The assist came from Emil Hansson's cross.
Arthur Zagré's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Fouled by Derensili Sanches Fernandes of Excelsior.
Basar Önal from N.E.C. won a free kick in defense.
Bryan Linssen from N.E.C. had a missed chance, shooting with his right foot from the right side of the six-yard box, but it went wide.
N.E.C. is awarded a corner after Lewis Schouten concedes.
The second half begins with the score at Excelsior 0, N.E.C. 1.
The first half ends with Excelsior 0, N.E.C. 1.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 1 minute of added time.
Foul committed by Bryan Linssen of N.E.C.
Casper Widell of Excelsior won a free kick in defense.
Offside called against N.E.C. Bryan Linssen is offside.
Noah Naujoks from Excelsior commits a foul.
Darko Nejasmic from N.E.C. won a free kick on the left wing.
Tjaronn Chery's left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Basar Önal provided the assist.
assist: Darko Nejasmic
Goal! N.E.C. takes the lead 1-0 against Excelsior. Bryan Linssen scores with a right-footed shot from inside the six-yard box, placing it to the left side of the center of the goal. Darko Nejasmic provides the assist.
New attacking attempt. Gyan de Regt from Excelsior takes a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it is saved by goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz from N.E.C., with an assist from Emil Hansson.
Offside called against Excelsior. Lewis Schouten is offside.
Offside called against N.E.C. Bryan Linssen is in an offside position.
Corner awarded to N.E.C. after Ilias Bronkhorst concedes.
Sami Ouaissa from N.E.C. won a free kick in defense.
Arthur Zagré from Excelsior commits a foul.
Kodai Sano from N.E.C. won a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Deveron Fonville of N.E.C.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Excelsior won a free kick in defense.
Gyan de Regt's shot from the center of the box is blocked. Emil Hansson provided the assist.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Noé Lebreton from N.E.C.
Sami Ouaissa of N.E.C. attempts an attack with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it's saved by Stijn van Gassel, the goalkeeper for Excelsior. The assist came from Bryan Linssen.
Offside called against Excelsior. Gyan de Regt is offside.
Lennard Hartjes from Excelsior commits a foul.
Eli Dasa from N.E.C. won a free kick in defense.
Eli Dasa's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Tjaronn Chery provided the assist.
Excelsior wins a corner after Kodai Sano concedes.
Noah Naujoks from Excelsior won a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Darko Nejasmic of N.E.C.
Ilias Bronkhorst from Excelsior won a free kick in defense.
Fouled by Basar Önal of N.E.C.
Corner awarded to N.E.C. after Derensili Sanches Fernandes concedes.
Fouled by Deveron Fonville of N.E.C.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes from Excelsior won a free kick in an attacking position.
Kodai Sano from N.E.C. misses a chance, shooting with his right foot from outside the box, sending the ball high and wide to the left. The assist was provided by Basar Önal.
The first half begins.
