2 – 2
“Adam Tahaui opens the scoring for NEC with a left-footed strike from outside the box following a free kick won by Jamiro Monteiro.”
“David Garden levels for Excelsior right before the break, finishing from the center of the box after a foul-induced free kick sequence.”
“Substitute Valentin Sulzbacher fires Excelsior into the lead with a right-footed finish, arriving just minutes after replacing Eric da Silva Moreira.”
Pivotal“Noé Lebreton rescues a point for NEC in the dying seconds, converting after a rebound from a blocked Perr Schuurs effort.”
Pivotal
NEC Nijmegen
Excelsior
NEC dominated the ball with 69% possession and 677 passes to Excelsior's 298, yet it was the visitors who found the net when it mattered most, exploiting NEC's high line on the counter. Excelsior's David Garden cancelled out Adam Tahaui's early free-kick goal right before half-time, and substitute Valentin Sulzbacher turned the game on its head with a clinical finish just two minutes after entering the pitch. Excelsior were far more clinical in front of goal, converting from just 14 shots and 5 big chances while NEC needed heavy territorial control to force their equalizer through Noé Lebreton in the 90th minute. The result leaves NEC frustrated after controlling the tempo for long spells, while Excelsior can take heart from their defensive discipline and ability to punish mistakes despite conceding 15 fouls and dominating far less of the ball.
How entertaining was this match?
Excelsior is awarded a corner after Ayodele Thomas concedes.
assist: Perr Schuurs
Goal! Noé Lebreton scores for NEC with a left-footed shot from the center of the box. The match is now 2-2 against Excelsior.
Attempt blocked. Perr Schuurs from NEC has a left-footed shot from the center of the box that is blocked.
Ayodele Thomas from NEC has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it is blocked. The assist comes from Kevin Kers.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh from Excelsior commits a foul.
Willum Willumsson from NEC wins a free kick in the attacking half.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 4 minutes of added time.
Attempt missed. Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior takes a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Dusan Tadic from NEC misses a header from the left side of the six-yard box, sending it close but to the left. The cross was provided by Clement Bischoff.
Substitution for NEC: Clement Bischoff comes on for Gabriel Brás.
Lennard Hartjes from Excelsior commits a foul.
Tobias Storm from NEC is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Lennard Hartjes from Excelsior commits a foul.
Noé Lebreton from NEC is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Excelsior: Alireza Jahanbakhsh comes on for Ilano Silva Timas.
Excelsior wins a corner after Nikolas Polster concedes.
Attempt saved. Nesto Groen from Excelsior has his right-footed shot from a tough angle on the left saved.
Attempt missed. Willum Willumsson from NEC takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box that goes close but misses to the left. Adam Tahaui provided the assist.
Foul committed by Rick Meissen of Excelsior.
Ayodele Thomas from NEC wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul committed by Jan Plug of Excelsior.
Gabriel Brás from NEC wins a free kick on the right wing.
assist: Aymen Sliti
Goal! Excelsior takes the lead 2-1 with a right-footed shot from the right side of the box by Valentin Sulzbacher.
Perr Schuurs from NEC has a right-footed shot from the center of the box, but it is blocked.
Substitution for Excelsior: Valentin Sulzbacher comes on for Eric da Silva Moreira.
Aymen Sliti from Excelsior has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Irakli Yegoian.
Rick MeissenYellow CardRick Meissen from Excelsior receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Rick Meissen of Excelsior.
Kevin Kers from NEC is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Rick Meissen of Excelsior.
Kevin Kers from NEC is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Excelsior: Aymen Sliti comes on for Ágúst Thorsteinsson.
Substitution for Excelsior: Nesto Groen comes on for David Garden.
Substitution for NEC: Kevin Kers comes on for Isak Hansen-Aarøen.
Lennard Hartjes from Excelsior commits a foul.
Willum Willumsson from NEC wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for NEC: Noé Lebreton comes on for Dennis Geiger.
Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Tobias Storm (NEC).
Excelsior wins a corner after Perr Schuurs concedes.
Attempt saved. Rick Meissen from Excelsior has his right-footed shot from the center of the box saved by Nikolas Polster in the center of the goal. The assist came from Ágúst Thorsteinsson.
Excelsior wins a corner after Tobias Storm concedes.
Dusan Tadic of NEC is caught offside.
Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Isak Hansen-Aarøen from NEC commits a foul.
Foul committed by Casper Widell of Excelsior.
Dusan Tadic from NEC wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Lennard Hartjes of Excelsior.
Tobias Storm from NEC is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Lennard HartjesYellow CardLennard Hartjes of Excelsior receives a yellow card for a foul.
Attempt blocked. Willum Willumsson from NEC has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that is blocked.
Substitution for Excelsior: Kasey Bos comes on for Simon Janssen.
The second half begins with the score tied at 1-1 between NEC and Excelsior.
Substitution for NEC: Philippe Sandler comes on for Bram Nuytinck.
Substitution for NEC: Perr Schuurs comes on for Jamiro Monteiro.
First half ends with NEC and Excelsior tied at 1-1.
Attempt missed. Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior takes a right-footed shot from the right side of the box.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 2 minutes of added time.
Offside called against NEC. Adam Tahaui is caught offside.
assist: Irakli Yegoian
Goal! The score is now NEC 1, Excelsior 1. David Garden scores for Excelsior with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Casper Widell of Excelsior commits a foul.
Dusan Tadic from NEC wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Simon Janssen of Excelsior.
Adam Tahaui from NEC is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Foul committed by Simon Janssen of Excelsior.
Adam Tahaui from NEC is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
David Garden from Excelsior commits a handball.
Gabriel Brás from NEC has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Tobias Storm.
Ayodele Thomas from NEC misses an attempt with a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Attempt missed by Rick Meissen from Excelsior, who took a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior has his right-footed shot from the left side of the box blocked. The attempt was assisted by Stijn van Gassel.
Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Jamiro Monteiro of NEC.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it is blocked. Ilano Silva Timas provided the assist.
Ayodele Thomas from NEC misses a right-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it close but to the left. Isak Hansen-Aarøen provided the assist after a fast break.
Attempt missed. Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior took a right-footed shot from over 35 yards after a quick counterattack.
Attempt missed. David Garden from Excelsior took a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Dusan Tadic of NEC is caught offside.
assist: Willum Thór Willumsson
Goal! NEC leads 1-0 against Excelsior. Adam Tahaui scores for NEC with a left-footed shot from outside the box.
David Garden from Excelsior commits a foul.
Jamiro Monteiro from NEC wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Ayodele Thomas from NEC.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Eric da Silva Moreira from Excelsior.
Eric da Silva Moreira from Excelsior is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ayodele Thomas of NEC.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Jamiro MonteiroYellow CardJamiro Monteiro from NEC receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Jamiro Monteiro of NEC.
NEC wins a corner after Casper Widell concedes.
Attempt saved. Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Nikolas Polster from NEC. The assist came from Ilano Silva Timas.
First half begins.
NEC Nijmegen host in-form Excelsior at the Goffertstadion looking to shake off a heavy 1-3 defeat to Feyenoord, while Excelsior arrive full of confidence after thumping Willem II 3-0. Recent history favors the hosts, but Excelsior's current momentum makes this a genuinely tricky Eredivisie clash.
