Match Events
| Min | Team | Card | Event | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' | Sparta Rotterdam | Jens Toornstra | 0-0 | |
| 24' | Excelsior | Goal — A. Sliti | 1-0 | |
| 28' | Excelsior | Simon Janssen | 1-0 | |
| 37' | Excelsior | Ágúst Orri Thorsteinsson | 1-0 | |
| 39' | Sparta Rotterdam | Substitution — R. van Cruijsen on, C. Terho off | 1-0 | |
| 48' | Sparta Rotterdam | Goal — M. Zonneveld (assist: M. van Bergen) | 1-1 | |
| 59' | Excelsior | Substitution — D. van Vianen on, E. da Silva Moreira off | 1-1 | |
| 59' | Excelsior | Substitution — A. Sliti on, A. Jahanbakhsh off | 1-1 | |
| 67' | Excelsior | Substitution — A. Thorsteinsson on, I. Silva Timas off | 1-1 | |
| 67' | Excelsior | Substitution — D. Garden on, N. Groen off | 1-1 | |
| 83' | Sparta Rotterdam | Substitution — J. Toornstra on, A. Roaldsoy off | 1-1 | |
| 83' | Sparta Rotterdam | Substitution — M. van Bergen on, J. Ideho off | 1-1 | |
| 85' | Excelsior | Substitution — S. Janssen on, K. Bos off | 1-1 | |
| 89' | Sparta Rotterdam | Substitution — J. Baas on, N. Verschuren off | 1-1 | |
| 90' | Excelsior | Goal — N. Groen (assist: I. Silva Timas) | 2-1 |
Excelsior held on for a 2-1 win over Sparta Rotterdam at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Saturday, 29 August 2026, despite having less of the ball for long stretches. The home side went in a goal up at half-time and made it count, edging the shot count 14-10 and putting four of those on target compared to Sparta's two. Sparta had more possession, 57 percent to 43, and pushed forward well without quite breaking Excelsior down. Sparta's best moment on the night came from Milan Zonneveld, who pulled one back and was easily the standout performer on the pitch, earning an 8.2 rating for his efforts. It wasn't enough to salvage anything, though, as Excelsior's early control proved decisive. Six corners to four tells its own story of a game where the hosts just did enough in the moments that mattered, taking a hard-fought 2-1 victory that will please their manager far more than the underlying numbers might suggest.
The Matchup
Excelsior 2-1 Sparta Rotterdam was the final score at Van Donge & De Roo Stadion, in a game where Excelsior did enough across the ninety minutes to deserve the three points. Excelsior also had the better share of the ball, holding 43% possession, which usually goes hand in hand with the extra control a winning side tends to show. The shot count told a similar story, with 14 attempts from Excelsior against 10 from Sparta Rotterdam over the course of the game. It was not always comfortable for Excelsior, and Sparta Rotterdam pushed for a way back into the game, but the result stood. Games like this can carry real weight later in the season, so this is a scoreline worth remembering. Below is a closer look at how the match broke down, statistically.
Man of the Match
Match Statistics
Excelsior vs Sparta Rotterdam Lineups
Looking Ahead
Excelsior have a quick chance to build on this result. Their next test comes at home to Groningen, and how they respond after this result will be worth watching. You can follow the build-up and everything you need to know when Excelsior vs Groningen going to play at 11 October 2026 in Eredivisie 2026-27.
Sparta Rotterdam, meanwhile, does not have long to wait before getting back out onto the pitch. They are next in action at home to Willem II, a game that will give an early sense of how they carry this result forward. Full details are here: Sparta Rotterdam vs Willem II going to play at 17 October 2026 in Eredivisie 2026-27.