ROTTERDAM. Excelsior finds its way back against Ajax with a goal on the B. Brobbey 41′ and a goal on the D. Klaassen 72′. Ajax was decisively superior in terms of ball possession (68%)​

The match was played at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion stadium in Rotterdam on Saturday and it started at 4:30 pm local time. In front of 4,400 spectators.​ The referee was Dennis Higler who had the assistance of Maarten Ketting and Sjoerd Nanninga. The 4th official was Marc Nagtegaal. The weather was few clouds. The temperature was pleasant at 24.1 degrees Celsius or 75.38 Fahrenheit. The humidity was 65%.​

Match Statistics​

Ball possession

Ajax was in firm control of the ball 68% while Excelsior was struggling with a 32% ball possession.

Attitude and shots

Ajax was more aggressive with 75 dangerous attacks and 15 shots of which 8 were on target. Notwithstanding, that was not enough Ajax to win the encounter​.

Excelsior shot 12 times, 3 on target, 5 off target. On the other side, Ajax shot 15 times, 8 on target, 5 off target.

Cards

None of the teams received any yellow card.

Standings

After playing this match, Excelsior has 4 points to occupy the 6th place in the standings. On the opposite side, Ajax has 4 points (5th).

Next matches

In the next match in the Eredivisie, Excelsior will host Heracles Almelo on the 12th of May with a 9-7 head to head in favor of Heracles Almelo (4 draws).

Ajax will play away agasint Heracles Almelo on the 27th of January with a 25-3 head to head in favor of Ajax (7 draws).

Excelsior – Formation

Excelsior started with a aggressive line-up (4-3-3).

The manager Marinus Dijkhuizen decided to play with the following team: Lennard Hartjes, Stijn van Gassel (7.5), Siebe Horemans (8.1), Casper Widell (7.3), Serano Seymor (6.0), Arthur Zagre (6.8), Noah Naujoks (6.5), Redouan El Yaakoubi (6.8), Julian Baas (7.2), Couhaib Driouech (7.1), Nikolas Agrafiotis (6.8) and Lazaros Lamprou (7.3).

The home team had on the bench: Mimeirhel Benita (6.5), Pascal Kuiper, Richie Omorowa (6.7), Derensili Sanches Fernandes (6.9), Sven Nieuwpoort (6.6), Norbert Alblas and Oscar Uddenäs.

Excelsior could not rely on the presence of Derensili Sanches Fernandes (injured).

Substitutions

Excelsior made 5 changes: Serano Seymor for Mimeirhel Benita (60′), Nikolas Agrafiotis for Richie Omorowa (60′), Siebe Horemans for Sven Nieuwpoort (75′), Couhaib Driouech for Derensili Sanches Fernandes (74′) and Noah Naujoks for Oscar Uddenäs (86′).

Best player: Siebe Horemans​

As per our analysis, the most impressive player for Excelsior was Siebe Horemans.

His rating is (8.1) with 1 goal, 19 passes (0% accurate) and 2 key passes. He was won 7 duels out of 10. He performed 2 crosses.

Ajax – Formation

Ajax started with a 4-2-3-1 line-up (4-2-3-1).

Maurice Steijn played with: Jay Gorter (6.4), Devyne Rensch (7.3), Jakov Medić (5.9), Jorrel Hato (7.1), Anass Salah-Eddine (6.7), Benjamin Tahirović (6.6), Branco van den Boomen (7.0), Carlos Borges (7.5), Mohammed Kudus (8.1), Steven Bergwijn (7.5), Brian Brobbey (7.0).

These were the players on the bench: Kenneth Taylor (7.0), Olivier Aertssen, Kristian Hlynsson (6.5), Kian Fitz-Jim, Davy Klaassen (7.5), Mika Godts, Christian Kjelder Rasmussen, Diant Ramaj, Charlie Setford, Owen Wijndal (6.8), Jorge Sánchez and Silvano Vos.

Substitutions

Ajax made 4 changes: Anass Salah-Eddine for Owen Wijndal (46′), Carlos Borges for Davy Klaassen (60′), Branco van den Boomen for Kenneth Taylor (60′) and Jakov Medić for Kristian Hlynsson (90′).

Best player: Mohammed Kudus​

The most impressive player for Ajax was Mohammed Kudus.

His rating is (8.1) with 28 passes (0% accurate) and 3 key passes. He was won 10 duels out of 19. He performed 1 cross.

Results of the day

These are the results of the day in the Eredivisie.​

• Go Ahead Eagles – FC Volendam – 4-1
• Excelsior – Ajax – 2-2
• Fortuna Sittard – Almere City – 2-1
• Vitesse – PSV – 1-3