Excelsior Rotterdam secured a vital Eredivisie victory by defeating Sparta Rotterdam 2-1 with a stoppage-time winner on Friday, 29 August 2026. The match at Stadion Woudestein was decided by substitute Nesto Groen, who headed home the decisive goal in the 92nd minute.
Managed by Marinus Dijkhuizen, Excelsior started the evening in 10th place but this win propelled them up to 6th in the table. As of the latest verified data on 31 August, Excelsior now sits 7th with six points from three matches, a +4 goal difference, and recent form of WLW. They trail league leaders AZ Alkmaar by six points. Sparta Rotterdam slipped from 8th to 10th with the defeat.
How did the match against Sparta unfold?
Aymen Sliti put Excelsior ahead in the 24th minute with a well-struck effort from outside the box following a corner. Sparta responded early in the second half. Milan Zonneveld leveled the score in the 48th minute, firing home from the center of the area with an assist from Mitchell Van Bergen. Both goalkeepers were called into action later. Sparta's Filip Bednarek tipped over a header from Alireza Jahanbakhsh in the 62nd minute, while Excelsior's Stijn van Gassel denied a shot from Alwande Roaldsøy in the 87th.
Who was the match-winner for Excelsior?
The drama unfolded deep into added time. Substitute Ilano Silva Timas delivered a corner for Excelsior and provided the assist with a headed pass to Nesto Groen. Groen, also freshly on the pitch, nodded the ball in from close range to snatch all three points. It was a classic example of substitutes making an immediate impact. Excelsior created fifteen total attempts, with five on target, despite having only 43.6% possession. Sparta managed ten attempts, with two on goal.
What does this win mean for the standings?
This late victory gives Excelsior a significant boost early in the league campaign. With seven goals scored and only three conceded, they have built a solid goal difference. The climb to sixth place, albeit provisional, highlights the team's growing momentum. Fans can track the full table and stats on our standings page. The next challenge comes quickly: an away fixture against Willem II on Saturday, 5 September. Willem II currently sits 16th, presenting an opportunity to solidify their position further. The full schedule is available on the fixtures page.
What are the next steps for the team?
Focus now shifts entirely to preparing for the trip to face Willem II. The momentum from this emotional win must be carried forward to Tilburg. The squad, which you can view on our squad page, has shown its resilience. The ability to fight until the final whistle and secure points is a vital trait for the long season ahead. This victory, as reported by onefootball.com, confirms that Excelsior is a team that doesn't give up and is ready to compete in the Eredivisie's mid-table.
