“Benjamin Pauwels fires FC Volendam into a stunning early lead, drilling a right-footed shot from outside the box into the right corner, assisted by Juninho Bacuna, giving Volendam the perfect start.”
Pivotal“Gibson Yah turns the ball into his own net to level the match at 1-1, gifting Excelsior an equaliser against the run of play just before half-time and wiping out Volendam's hard-earned lead.”
Pivotal“Adam Carlén, introduced just seven minutes earlier, picks up a yellow card for a foul, typifying the fractious nature of a second half that saw both sides disrupt any rhythm with stoppages and bookings.”
“Alex Plat receives a yellow card and is immediately substituted off, a double blow that underlines Excelsior's frustration as they failed to find a winner despite dominating possession throughout the match.”
Excelsior
FC Volendam
Outstanding performance
Excelsior•DefenderFC Volendam struck inside two minutes through Benjamin Pauwels, whose low drive from outside the box found the right corner with Juninho Bacuna providing the assist, and for most of the first half they appeared capable of holding the lead. Excelsior, however, dominated possession with 68 percent of the ball and 528 passes, yet their control translated into precious little — only two shots on target throughout the entire match. The equaliser came not through Excelsior's creativity but through misfortune, with Gibson Yah turning the ball into his own net on 38 minutes to level the contest against the run of events. The second half descended into a tactical muddle, with both sides making a combined six substitutions between the 61st and 72nd minutes, and the yellow cards for Adam Carlén, Henk Veerman, and Alex Plat — the last of whom was immediately withdrawn — illustrated the frustration on both sides. The point does little for either team's ambitions at this stage of the season, with Excelsior unable to convert dominance into genuine chances and Volendam failing to capitalise on a dream start.
How entertaining was this match?
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Juninho Bacuna of FC Volendam.
Fouled by Gyan de Regt of Excelsior.
Mawouna Amevor of FC Volendam won a free kick in defense.
There is a delay in the match due to an injury to Gibson Yah from FC Volendam.
Excelsior wins a corner after Nick Verschuren concedes.
Noah Naujoks from Excelsior has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box blocked. The assist came from Derensili Sanches Fernandes.
Gyan de Regt's right-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The assist was provided by Rick Meissen.
Foul committed by Lewis Schouten of Excelsior.
Yannick Leliendal from FC Volendam earned a free kick in defense.
Foul committed by Derensili Sanches Fernandes of Excelsior.
Bilal Ould-Chikh from FC Volendam won a free kick in defense.
Excelsior wins a corner after Nick Verschuren concedes.
Missed chance. Casper Widell from Excelsior heads the ball from the center of the box but it goes high. Assist by Emil Hansson.
Emil Hansson's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. The assist came from Lennard Hartjes.
Foul committed by Mawouna Amevor of FC Volendam.
Emil Hansson from Excelsior won a free kick on the left wing.
Excelsior wins a corner after Precious Ugwu concedes.
Bilal Ould-Chikh of FC Volendam committed a handball.
assist: Juninho Bacuna
Goal! FC Volendam leads 1-0 against Excelsior. Benjamin Pauwels scores with a right-footed shot from outside the box into the right corner, assisted by Juninho Bacuna.
The first half begins.
