Excelsior Rotterdam secured a convincing away victory at Willem II Tilburg, announcing their presence in the upper reaches of the Eredivisie. Coach Ruben den Uil's side won 0-3 at the Koning Willem II Stadion on Saturday, as reported by NOS Sport.
The Rotterdammers have made an excellent start to the Eredivisie season, notching their third win in four matches with this result. This victory places them ninth in the current standings, with six points from three games and a recent form of WLW. They have scored seven goals and conceded three, giving them a +4 goal difference.
How did the match in Tilburg unfold?
Excelsior took control of the match early on. After eight minutes, forward David Garden created the first major chance, beating Willem II goalkeeper Maxime Delanghe. Just before halftime, the Rotterdam side doubled their lead. Defender Rick Meissen, aged 24, headed in his first professional goal from a cross, making it 0-2 at the break.
In the second half, Excelsior remained dangerous. The 0-3 was the work of Irakli Jegoian, who had earlier provided the assist for the opening goal. His finish came from a long goal kick by goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel. "He provided the assist for the 0-1 and scored the 0-3 himself," Jegoian said afterwards about his own performance.
Why did Willem II struggle?
The home side from Tilburg had issues in goal. Goalkeeper Thomas Didillon-Hödl was absent due to injury, forcing coach John Stegeman to field a different starting keeper for the third time this early season. Maxime Delanghe was preferred over Karst de Leeuw. Willem II, who had not won any matches prior to this game, did field new signings. Tonny Vilhena made his debut for the club and Chido Obi, on loan from Manchester United, also played. Target man Thomas Verheydt was used as a battering ram, but it was not enough against a solid Excelsior.
What does this mean for the league table?
With this win, Excelsior continues a strong start to the season. The team began the campaign with a victory over Cambuur and also won the city derby against Sparta Rotterdam thanks to a late winner from substitute Groen. Their current ninth position provides a solid foundation, though they trail league leaders AZ Alkmaar by six points in the title race.
The season's statistics are promising. Excelsior boasts a +4 goal difference and shows attacking potency. The entire squad of Excelsior Rotterdam is contributing to this collective success.
What's next for Excelsior?
The next challenge for Excelsior is the away fixture against NEC Nijmegen, scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, 2026. NEC currently sits seventh in the table and themselves recorded a large victory over Willem II earlier this season. It promises to be an exciting confrontation. All upcoming matches can be found in the fixtures list. Excelsior travels to Nijmegen to face a team feeling positive about advancing to the Champions League play-offs.
