Excelsior Rotterdam vs NEC Nijmegen

NEC Nijmegen eased to a comfortable 2-0 away win at the Van Donge & De Roo Stadion on Friday night, piling more misery on a sinking Excelsior side. The result stretches the hosts' wretched run to seven consecutive Eredivisie defeats. Bryan Linssen broke the deadlock on the half-hour mark, converting a smart pass from Darko Nejasmic to hand NEC a deserved lead at the break. Basar Onal then put the game to bed in the 71st minute, finishing off a slick move set up by Sami Ouaissa as Excelsior offered little resistance. The victory lifts NEC to second in the Eredivisie on 53 points, level with Feyenoord but ahead on goal difference as the race for European football heats up. For Excelsior, marooned in 16th on just 27 points, time is fast running out to haul themselves clear of the relegation zone.