A 90th-minute goal sunk Sparta Rotterdam, Excelsior secured a dramatic 2-1 victory.
Groen's 90th-minute goal sealed a 2-1 victory for Excelsior against Sparta Rotterdam at Stadion Woudestein, propelling the home side to 10th place in the Eredivisie table while their opponents missed the opportunity to move up and remain in 8th position.
- 0'The match has started.
Excelsior hosts Sparta Rotterdam.
- 13'Sparta Rotterdam took control of the ball.
After the first 13 minutes of play, the game was relatively tight with both teams tied at 1-0.0-0The visiting team, Sparta Rotterdam, is currently the more dominant side in terms of possession.59%(compared to)41%Excelsior), however, the home team Excelsior also earned the first corner kick (1-0).
- 20'Jens Toornstra received the first yellow card of the match.
In the 20th minute, the referee issued a yellow card warning.Jens ToornstraSparta Rotterdam committed a foul. The match at Stadion Woudestein is being played out cautiously and evenly, with the score currently at 0-0.
- 24'Aymen Slizzi opened the scoring for Excelsior.
In the 24th minute, Aymen Sliti's accurate finish put Excelsior ahead 1-0 against Sparta Rotterdam. The early goal allowed the home team to capitalize on their dominance at Stadion Woudestein.
- 25'Excelsior maintained the initiative after scoring the opening goal.
After 25 minutes of play,ExcelsiorThe home team is still controlling the tempo well, holding a 1-0 lead with 53% - 47% possession. The home team created a slightly better game with a superior number of corner kicks (3 - 1) and shots on target (2 - 1), leaving the opponent in a difficult position.Sparta RotterdamThey faced many difficulties in their attempts to score an equalizer.
- 28'Simon Janssen received a yellow card after the foul.
In the 28th minute, the defenderSimon JanssenExcelsior received a yellow card from the referee after the foul. The home team is leading 1-0 but needs to keep a cool head to avoid unnecessary risks.
- 37'Ágúst Orri Thorsteinsson received a yellow card after the foul.
In the 37th minute, the referee issued a yellow card warning.Ágúst Orri ThorsteinssonExcelsior received a yellow card after a foul. This was the home team's second yellow card in the first half, as they were trying to maintain their 1-0 lead.
- 38'Excelsior maintains its lead.
Towards the end of the first half, Excelsior continued to maintain the initiative with a 52% - 48% possession rate against Sparta Rotterdam. Although the total number of shots was fairly balanced at 5 - 4, the home team was superior in terms of sharpness with a 3 - 0 success rate and temporarily held a 1-0 lead.
- 39'Sparta Rotterdam made early substitutions in search of an equalizer.
In the 39th minute, Sparta Rotterdam made a substitution whenCasper TerhoHe was brought on to replace Robin van Cruijsen. Trailing Excelsior 1-0, the visitors desperately needed a change in attack to have any hope of turning the tide before the end of the first half.
- 45'End of the first half
At the end of the first half, the score was 1-0.
- 46'The second half has begun.
The second half has begun.
- 48'Milan Zonneveld equalized 1-1 for Sparta Rotterdam
Right at the start of the second half, in the 48th minute, Mitchell Van Bergen made a well-placed pass toMilan ZonneveldA precise finish leveled the score at 1-1 for Sparta Rotterdam. This crucial goal brought the visitors back to square one in the derby.
- 52'The game was evenly matched at the beginning of the second half.
At the 52nd minute, the two teams were still tied with the score.1-1In a closely contested match, Sparta Rotterdam had a slight advantage in terms of ball possession.47% - 53%and total number of shots6 - 8However, Excelsior proved more dangerous in terms of accuracy when taking the lead.3 - 1Regarding the number of shots on target.
- 59'Excelsior refreshes its attack with Alireza Jahanbakhsh.
In the 59th minute, Excelsior decided to make a change in the attacking line-up whenAlireza JahanbakhshHe was brought on to replace Aymen Sliti. With the score at 1-1 and the game tense with both sides attacking, the presence of this striker was expected to help the home team increase the pressure in search of a goal.
- 59'Excelsior made a personnel change at the 59th minute.
In the 59th minute, Excelsior made a substitution whenEric da Silva MoreiraHe was brought onto the field to fill the gap forDaniel van VianenWith the score tied at 1-1, the home team hoped this adjustment would bring a fresh impetus to their search for a winning goal.
- 64'A fiercely contested match between Excelsior and Sparta Rotterdam.
Entering the 64th minute, the two teams were still tied 1-1 in a closely contested match. Sparta Rotterdam had a slight advantage in ball possession (45% - 55%), but Excelsior proved more incisive, leading 3-1 in shots on target out of a total of 8 shots from both sides.
- 67'Excelsior refreshed their lineup in the 67th minute.
In the 67th minute, Excelsior made a substitution whenNesto GreenHe was brought on as a substitute for David Garden. The home team is trying to find more attacking options as the score remains 1-1.
- 67'Excelsior brought on Timas Ilano Silva to replace Thorsteinsson.
In the 67th minute, Excelsior made a substitution whenIlano Silva Timascame onto the field as a substitute.Ágúst Orri Thorsteinsson- The player had already received a yellow card. The home team's coaching staff hoped that the introduction of the new player would create a breakthrough in a situation where the score was tied 1-1.
- 77'The match was fiercely contested in the second half.
Entering the 77th minute, the two teams were still tied 1-1 in a tense back-and-forth match. Although Sparta Rotterdam dominated possession (41% - 59%), Excelsior had a slight edge in attacking opportunities with 10 shots - 8 (3 - 1 on target) and 5 - 4 corners.
- 83'Sparta Rotterdam refreshed their midfield in the 83rd minute.
In the 83rd minute, Sparta Rotterdam decided to withdraw.Jens Toornstratake a break and then release.Alwande Benedict RoaldsøyHe came onto the field. In a closely contested match with the score tied 1-1, this substitution could help the away team strengthen their midfield in the final minutes of the game.
- 83'Sparta Rotterdam revamped their attack at the end of the match.
In the 83rd minute,Sparta RotterdamMake personnel adjustments whenJoel Idehowas brought onto the field as a substitute forMitchell Van BergenThe away team hoped this fresh impetus could create a breakthrough in the final minutes, given that the score was still tied at 1-1.
- 85'Excelsior strengthens their roster late in the game.
In the 85th minute, Excelsior exercised their substitution whenKasey BosHe was brought onto the field to replace the previous player.Simon JanssenThe home team made an effort to refresh their lineup as the score remained tied 1-1 in the final minutes of regular time.
- 89'Sparta Rotterdam brought Nick Verschuren onto the field.
In the 89th minute, Sparta Rotterdam made a substitution whenNick Verschurenwas brought on as a substitute.Julian BaasTrailing 1-2 with regular time running out, the visiting team is making a full-scale effort to find an equalizer.
- 90+2'Nesto Groen put Excelsior ahead in injury time.
In the 90+2 minute, receiving an assist from Ilano Silva Timas,Nesto GreenExcelsior scored to put them 2-1 ahead. This dramatic late goal gave the home team at Stadion Woudestein the lead once again against Sparta Rotterdam.
- 90'The match was a fierce back-and-forth affair in the 90th minute.
Entering the 90th minute, the match remained tightly balanced with the score at 1-1. Although Sparta Rotterdam controlled the game better with 43% - 57% possession, Excelsior was the more active team in threatening the opponent's goal, having 13 - 10 shots (3 - 2 on target).
- KTFinal score: Excelsior 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam
The match ended with a score of 2-1.
Updated at 23:22 on August 29, 2026
Excelsior is closely trailing the continental cup qualification spots and has a crucial opportunity to solidify its position when it faces Sparta Rotterdam. The match takes place at 9:30 PM on August 29, 2026, at Stadion Woudestein, where the home team hopes to capitalize on their home advantage to make a breakthrough in the standings.
The context and the close gap in the rankings.
Currently, Sparta Rotterdam sits in 8th place with 4 points, while Excelsior is close behind in 10th place with 3 points. The gap between the two clubs is a mere 1 point, making this direct encounter a highly anticipated clash. A favorable result would allow either side to make a significant leap forward in their current points total.
Current form and head-to-head record
In terms of recent performance, Excelsior has recorded one win and one loss. The home team shows potential for explosive play but still needs more consistency to maintain its competitiveness. Conversely, Sparta Rotterdam has shown somewhat inconsistent form with a series of results including one loss, one win, and one draw in their most recent matches.
Statistics from the last five encounters show that the advantage is currently leaning towards the away team. Specifically, Sparta Rotterdam has won 3 times, while Excelsior has secured 2 victories, and there have been no draws between the two teams. These numbers reflect the fierce competition and the clear-cut wins whenever the two sides meet.
Analyzing the trends in the game
Playing in front of their home crowd at Stadion Woudestein, Excelsior will likely take the initiative to push forward in order to control the midfield and put pressure on the opponent's half. However, Sparta Rotterdam, with a slightly better head-to-head record, has every reason to set up a tight defensive formation, waiting for opportunities to launch sharp counter-attacks. The match promises to be fast-paced and full of tactical planning from both coaching staffs.
*This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence (AI).
