Excelsior missed a unique season start due to a stoppage-time equalizer at NEC Nijmegen. The Rotterdam side stands a strong fourth in the Eredivisie after five matchdays with ten points, according to data from Voetbal International.
Why did Excelsior miss a historic record?
Noé Lebreton of NEC scored the 2-2 against Excelsior in added time. If that ball hadn't gone in, the Rotterdam team would have had more than ten points after five games for the first time ever. Now they only matched the club record from 1979/80 and 1982/83. Coach Ruben den Uil analyzed the goal for ESPN. 'That 2-2 also has to do with fatigue,' he said. 'In all their enthusiasm, four players press the ball, leaving three free.'
The manager was nevertheless proud of his team's performance. He pointed out that Excelsior lost 5-0 at De Goffert last season. 'We know Dick Schreuder's NEC, that's magnificent. Today we had it very well organized,' said Den Uil. The team plays at home against FC Utrecht on Sunday before visiting Ajax.
How did the match against NEC unfold?
NEC started the catch-up match strongly and took a 1-0 lead after ten minutes through Adam Tahaui. Excelsior equalized before halftime with a goal from David Garden, assisted by Irakli Yegoian. In the second half, Rick Meissen had a big chance for 1-2, but his shot ended up in goalkeeper Nikolas Polster's hands.
The key moments came late. Debutant Valentin Sulzbacher made it 1-2 with his first touch in an Excelsior shirt. According to Telegraaf live blog data, the Austrian is now the fastest-scoring Eredivisie debutant with his first touch. NEC kept fighting and had another chance through Dusan Tadic, but the Serbian headed wide. In stoppage time, Lebreton finally found the net.
What is Excelsior's current situation?
Excelsior currently sits fifth in the Eredivisie with nine points from four matches. The team has won three and lost one, with a goal difference of ten for and three against. That's a plus seven. The Kralingers trail leaders AZ Alkmaar by six points.
The next match is a home game against FC Groningen on October 11th. Groningen currently sits ninth in the table. Fans can view the full schedule on our fixtures page. The current standings show exactly how the league looks.
Who were Excelsior's standout performers?
Irakli Yegoian was again an important player for the Rotterdammers. The Georgian was involved in the equalizer and nearly scored himself from the halfway line. His attempt ended up on the roof of the net. David Garden scored his first league goal of the season.
Valentin Sulzbacher made a memorable debut. The midfielder, signed from Red Bull Salzburg, scored with his very first touch. His substitution lasted just two minutes and 35 seconds before he found the net. The team composition and individual statistics can be found on the squad and stats pages. Excelsior plays FC Utrecht at Stadion Woudestein on Sunday at 12:15.
