2 – 3
“Giannino Vianello's desperate attempt to deal with Excelsior pressure ended in disaster as he turned the ball into his own net, giving the visitors an early advantage after a sustained period of attacking play.”
Pivotal“Arthur Zagré doubled Excelsior's lead just four minutes into the second half, extending the visitors' advantage to two goals and putting Sparta firmly on the back foot.”
Pivotal“Noah Naujoks put the game seemingly beyond reach at 1-3, striking after Excelsior sustained relentless pressure with three consecutive efforts in the space of three minutes — the decisive blow that deflated Sparta's hopes of a comeback.”
Pivotal“Substitute Milan Zonneveld scrambled home a left-footed effort in stoppage time after two blocked shots in quick succession, reducing the deficit to 2-3 and giving a brief glimpse of a dramatic leveller that never came.”
Sparta Rotterdam
Excelsior
Outstanding performance
Excelsior•MidfielderExcelsior were the more ruthless side on the day, capitalising on Sparta's defensive misfortunes and clinical counter-attacking to build a commanding 0-3 lead before Sparta mounted a spirited but ultimately insufficient response. The visitors got the break they needed as early as the 14th minute when Giannino Vianello turned the ball into his own net following sustained Excelsior pressure, and Arthur Zagré doubled the advantage on the hour before Noah Naujoks made it three just after the hour mark. Despite Sparta controlling possession — 53% to Excelsior's 47% — and generating 17 shots to Excelsior's 16, they were let down by defensive fragility and profligacy in front of goal, converting only two of their five shots on target. Substitutes proved decisive at both ends: Ayoni Santos pulled one back for Sparta in the 53rd minute to briefly hint at a comeback, while Milan Zonneveld's 90th-minute goal added gloss but came too late to alter the outcome, as Excelsior's goalkeeper stood firm with three saves to secure a vital away win.
How entertaining was this match?
Milan ZonneveldMilan Zonneveld scores with a right-footed shot.
Ayoni Santos takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
VAR decision: goal disallowed due to handball by Milan Zonneveld.
assist: Tobias Lauritsen
Goal! Milan Zonneveld scores, bringing the match to 3-3.
Milan ZonneveldMilan Zonneveld scores with a left-footed shot.
Tobias Lauritsen takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Jonathan Alexander De Guzman takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Marvin Young takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Patrick Van Aanholt receives a yellow card.
Ayoni Santos takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Adam Carlen comes on for Noah Naujoks.
Szymon Wlodarczyk comes on for Derensili Sanches Fernandes.
Milan Zonneveld takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Jens Toornstra comes on for Joshua Kitolano.
Julian Baas takes a right-footed shot that hits the post.
Jerroldino Armantrading replaces Mike van Duinen.
Joshua Kitolano takes a right-footed shot, but it's saved.
Teo Quintero receives a yellow card.
Patrick Van Aanholt replaces Giannino Vianello.
Jonathan Alexander De Guzman replaces Shunsuke Mito.
Irakli Yegoian takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Lennard Hartjes takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Arthur Zagre takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Noah NaujoksNoah Naujoks scores with a header.
assist: Gyan de Regt
Goal! Noah Naujoks scores, making it 1-3.
Gyan de Regt takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Teo Quintero's header shot misses the target.
Shunsuke Mito takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Noah Naujoks takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Irakli Yegoian takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Ayoni SantosAyoni Santos takes a shot with his right foot and scores.
Julian Baas receives a yellow card.
Arthur ZagréArthur Zagre scores with a right-footed shot.
Arthur Zagre takes a right-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Tobias Lauritsen attempts a header but misses the shot.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Julian Baas is on, and Pelle Clement is off.
Milan Zonneveld is on, and Said Bakari is off.
The first half ends with a score of 0-1.
Vito van Crooij receives a yellow card.
Shunsuke Mito takes a right-footed shot, but it is saved.
Vito van Crooij takes a right-footed shot, but it's blocked.
Lennard Hartjes takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Derensili Sanches Fernandes takes a left-footed shot but misses.
Own goal by Giannino Vianello puts the score at 0-1.
Lennard Hartjes takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Giannino Vianello takes a left-footed shot, but it is blocked.
Irakli Yegoian takes a right-footed shot but misses.
Shunsuke Mito takes a left-footed shot, but it's blocked.
