NOS Voetbal•zondag, 14:20
View the summary of Excelsior – Vitesse
Vitesse won at Excelsior, 1-2, with a goal in the final phase. The first win in eight games gives the Arnhem team hope once more in the fight once morest (immediate) relegation. Excelsior actually drops towards the relegation zone due to the defeat.
“We needed this,” Vitesse coach Edward Sturing admitted. He saw that things might go both ways in Rotterdam. “Sometimes you get more than you deserve, but I am happy with it. This is important for the entire group, it was an explosion in the dressing room.”
A door further on it was quiet following the match, Marinus Dijkhuizen noticed. “Silence and frustration, that combination,” said the Excelsior coach. “This hits hard. We make too many crucial mistakes, it is also a mental story.”
NOSThe position in the premier league
Excelsior and Vitesse turned out to be evenly matched on the Rotterdam artificial grass. With mistakes on both sides, both clubs from the right row had plenty of opportunities to score.
Redouan El Yaakoubi, Couhaib Driouech and Troy Parrott missed opportunities for Excelsior, while Vitesse countered efforts by Anis Hadj-Moussa, Paxten Aaronson and Kacper Kozlowski.
Sturing sees ‘explosion’ in Vitesse dressing room, it is quiet at Excelsior
Everything seemed possible, especially following the spectacular start to the second half.
Lance Duijvenstijn gave the home team the lead 25 seconds following halftime. Excelsior kicked off, opportunistically looked for the attack and Duijvenstijn scored a nice goal from a difficult cross from Arthur Zagré (1-0).
Five minutes later the score was equal once more. With more luck than wisdom, a cross from right back Carlens Arcus ended up with Aaronson, who finished from close range (1-1).
Pro ShotsVitesse celebrates the 1-2
Both teams then had good phases. First the chances were for Excelsior, where Driouech seems to be dribbling towards good form once more. Then Vitesse took over. The Arnhem team, until then kept afloat by goalkeeper Eloy Room, struck four minutes before the end.
Nicolas Isimat-Mirin, who was the schlemiel in the lost match once morest Heracles two weeks ago, became the celebrated man. The defender headed home from a corner by seasonmaker Hadj Moussa (1-2).
