Excelsior Rotterdam vs FC Utrecht

Excelsior delivered one of the performances of their season, crushing a ten-man FC Utrecht 5-0 at home in a result that sends shockwaves through the Eredivisie relegation battle. The game turned early when Utrecht's Matisse Didden was dismissed after collecting two yellow cards within minutes of each other, leaving his side short-handed around the half-hour mark. Noah Naujoks had already set the tone in the 11th minute, and Derensili Sanches Fernandes took full advantage of the extra man with a clinical brace (35', 53'). Irakli Yegoian made it four on 70 minutes, and Lennard Hartjes completed the rout deep into stoppage time. The win was a massive lifeline for Excelsior, who climbed to 14th and opened a six-point gap over the relegation play-off places. Utrecht remain eighth but have serious questions to answer after a truly sobering afternoon.