“Aymen Sliti puts Excelsior ahead with a left-footed strike from outside the box after a corner”
Pivotal“Milan Zonneveld equalizes for Sparta Rotterdam moments after the restart”
Pivotal“Substitute Nesto Groen scores the decisive winner deep into stoppage time”
Pivotal
Excelsior
Sparta Rotterdam
Outstanding performance
Excelsior•AttackerExcelsior struck first through Aymen Sliti's outside-the-box finish from a corner, but Sparta Rotterdam responded almost immediately after the restart when Milan Zonneveld converted from close range following a Martins Indi foul concession. The match then simmered through a flurry of substitutions from both sides before Excelsior, despite trailing in possession (44% to 56%) and passing accuracy, made their extra shots count - firing 15 attempts to Sparta's 10 and 5 on target compared to just 2. Nesto Groen, introduced in the 67th minute, proved the difference with a dramatic 90th-minute winner that snapped a tie which had held since just after halftime. For Excelsior, sitting 15th and needing results, this is a huge lift heading into the next round, while Sparta will rue conceding from a corner and failing to see out a game they controlled territorially.
How entertaining was this match?
Excelsior is awarded a corner after Bruno Martins Indi concedes.
Substitution for Sparta Rotterdam: Nick Verschuren comes on for Julian Baas.
Foul committed by Lennard Hartjes of Excelsior.
Bruno Martins Indi from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt saved. Alwande Roaldsøy from Sparta Rotterdam has a right-footed shot from outside the box that is saved.
Jan Plug from Excelsior misses an attempt with a header from the right side of the six-yard box, sending it too high. The cross was assisted by Irakli Yegoian.
Nesto Groen from Excelsior commits a foul.
Julian Baas of Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution for Excelsior: Kasey Bos comes on for Simon Janssen.
Substitution for Sparta Rotterdam: Joel Ideho comes on for Mitchell van Bergen.
Substitution for Sparta Rotterdam: Alwande Roaldsøy comes on for Jens Toornstra.
Lennard Hartjes from Excelsior commits a foul.
Mitchell van Bergen from Sparta Rotterdam is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
Nesto Groen from Excelsior commits a foul.
Julian Baas from Sparta Rotterdam is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Milan Zonneveld's left-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Mitchell van Bergen.
Foul committed by Casper Widell of Excelsior.
Milan Zonneveld from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Nesto Groen from Excelsior heads the ball from the left side of the six-yard box.
Attempt blocked. Casper Widell from Excelsior has his right-footed shot from a tough angle on the right blocked. Nesto Groen provided the assist.
Simon Janssen's left-footed shot from the left side of the box is blocked. Nesto Groen provided the assist.
Excelsior wins a corner after Lushendry Martes concedes.
Excelsior wins a corner after Bruno Martins Indi concedes.
Julian Baas of Sparta Rotterdam commits a foul.
Lennard Hartjes from Excelsior wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Ilano Silva Timas from Excelsior commits a foul.
Casper Terho from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Substitution for Excelsior: Ilano Silva Timas comes on for Ágúst Thorsteinsson.
Substitution for Excelsior: Nesto Groen comes on for David Garden.
David Garden's left-footed shot from the center of the box for Excelsior is blocked.
Corner awarded to Sparta Rotterdam after Casper Widell concedes.
Substitution for Excelsior: Alireza Jahanbakhsh comes on for Aymen Sliti.
Substitution for Excelsior: Eric da Silva Moreira comes on for Daniël van Vianen.
Sparta Rotterdam wins a corner after Ágúst Thorsteinsson concedes.
Attempt blocked. Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior has a left-footed shot from the left side of the box that is blocked.
Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior misses a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, just to the right. He was assisted by Ágúst Thorsteinsson.
David Garden from Excelsior commits a foul.
Bas Kuipers from Sparta Rotterdam is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior commits a foul.
Marvin Young from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick on the right wing.
Casper Widell from Excelsior is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Bas Kuipers of Sparta Rotterdam.
assist: Mitchell van Bergen
Goal! The score is now Excelsior 1, Sparta Rotterdam 1. Milan Zonneveld scores for Sparta Rotterdam with a right-footed shot from the center of the box.
Aymen Sliti from Excelsior is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Bruno Martins Indi from Sparta Rotterdam commits a foul.
The second half begins with Excelsior leading Sparta Rotterdam 1-0.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior wins a free kick on the left wing.
The first half ends with Excelsior leading Sparta Rotterdam 1-0.
Casper Terho commits a foul for Sparta Rotterdam.
The fourth official has indicated that there will be 2 minutes of added time.
Attempt missed. Marvin Young from Sparta Rotterdam takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it goes too high. He was assisted by Bas Kuipers.
Sparta Rotterdam wins a corner after Aymen Sliti concedes.
David Garden's right-footed shot from the center of the box is blocked. He was assisted by Irakli Yegoian, who provided the cross.
Attempt blocked. Casper Terho from Sparta Rotterdam has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked. Bruno Martins Indi provided the assist.
Attempt saved. Casper Terho from Sparta Rotterdam has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box, but it is saved.
Substitution for Sparta Rotterdam: Casper Terho comes on for Robin van Cruijsen due to an injury.
Lushendry Martes from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Simon Janssen of Excelsior.
Ágúst Orri ThorsteinssonYellow CardÁgúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Mitchell van Bergen from Sparta Rotterdam is awarded a free kick on the right wing.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior commits a foul.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Attempt missed. Aymen Sliti from Excelsior heads the ball from the center of the box.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Mitchell van Bergen of Sparta Rotterdam.
Attempt missed by Jens Toornstra of Sparta Rotterdam, who took a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Marvin Young from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Ágúst Thorsteinsson of Excelsior.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Robin van Cruijsen from Sparta Rotterdam.
Simon JanssenYellow CardSimon Janssen of Excelsior receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Mitchell van Bergen from Sparta Rotterdam has a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it is blocked.
Milan Zonneveld of Sparta Rotterdam commits a handball.
Goal! Excelsior leads 1-0 against Sparta Rotterdam. Aymen Sliti scores for Excelsior with a left-footed shot from outside the box after a corner.
Excelsior is awarded a corner after Bruno Martins Indi concedes.
Excelsior wins a corner after Julian Baas concedes.
Aymen Sliti from Excelsior has his left-footed shot from outside the box saved in the center of the goal by Filip Bednarek from Sparta Rotterdam. The attempt was assisted by David Garden.
Jens Toornstra from Sparta Rotterdam wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior commits a foul.
Jens ToornstraYellow CardJens Toornstra of Sparta Rotterdam receives a yellow card for a bad foul.
Foul committed by Jens Toornstra of Sparta Rotterdam.
Daniël van Vianen from Excelsior wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt saved. Irakli Yegoian from Excelsior has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved.
Milan Zonneveld's header from close range is blocked. He was assisted by Jens Toornstra's cross.
Attempt missed. Lushendry Martes from Sparta Rotterdam takes a right-footed shot from outside the box, but it goes to the right after a corner.
Sparta Rotterdam wins a corner after Jan Plug concedes.
Attempt missed. Simon Janssen from Excelsior takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Excelsior wins a corner after Bas Kuipers concedes.
Foul committed by Jan Plug of Excelsior.
Milan Zonneveld from Sparta Rotterdam is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Lushendry Martes from Sparta Rotterdam commits a foul.
Ágúst Thorsteinsson from Excelsior is awarded a free kick on the left wing.
First half begins.
Excelsior host city rivals Sparta Rotterdam in a fiercely anticipated Eredivisie derby at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion this Saturday. With both sides in contrasting but competitive early-season form, the Rotterdam bragging rights are very much up for grabs in what promises to be a passionate, high-energy affair.
