Excelsior Rotterdam suffered a 2-1 defeat to Willem II in an Eredivisie match on Sunday. The Rotterdam-based side fell behind early and despite a late goal could not turn the tide.
The match was covered with live updates by TNT Sports. D. Garden put Willem II ahead in the 8th minute. R. Meissen doubled the score in the 34th minute. Excelsior player I. Yegoian scored the only Rotterdam goal in the 85th minute. The loss is a blow to Excelsior's ambitions, as they entered the match in a strong fifth place in the standings with 9 points from four games.
How did the match against Willem II unfold?
Willem II started quickly and got an early reward for their pressure. The opening goal from Garden after eight minutes immediately put Excelsior on the back foot. The Rotterdammers tried to respond but could not create clear chances. When Meissen made it 2-0 half an hour before the break, the task looked steep for the visitors. Excelsior had conceded only three goals all season before this match, but found themselves two down in one half.
In the second half, Excelsior searched for more attacking impetus. They controlled possession better but genuine breakthroughs remained elusive. Only in the closing stages, as Willem II dropped deeper, did the consolation goal arrive. Yegoian scored in the 85th minute to make it 2-1, creating some late tension. It was too little, too late for an equaliser.
What does this result mean for the league table?
The defeat means Excelsior could not consolidate their place in the upper reaches of the table. Before this match, the club was fifth with a record of three wins and one loss. Their goal difference of +7, with ten goals scored and three conceded, remains a strong asset. But the gap to leaders AZ Alkmaar has now grown to six points. Every dropped match makes the chase more difficult.
The coming weeks are important to maintain the strong start to the season. The Excelsior squad must quickly process this setback. The statistics from this match can be found on our stats page.
What's next for Excelsior?
The recovery must start immediately, as the schedule does not wait. Excelsior travels on Monday for their next fixture. The team plays away against NEC Nijmegen, who currently sit tenth. That match takes place on Tuesday, 8 September 2026.
It is a direct opportunity to break the negative momentum and pick up points again. A win in Nijmegen would restore confidence in the group straight away. The full schedule for the coming period is available in the fixtures. Excelsior concludes the month of September with two more league matches.
