Excelsior delivered a dominant performance to defeat Willem II 3-0 on Saturday evening, inflicting further misery on the newly promoted Tilburg side in the Eredivisie. Goals from David Garden, Rick Meissen, and Irakli Yegoian secured a convincing victory that highlighted the gulf in class between the two teams, with Willem II continuing their winless start to the campaign.
Willem II entered the contest seeking their first three points of the season after drawing 2-2 with SC Heerenveen the previous week. Coach John Stegeman's squad faced an Excelsior team in confident form, having accumulated six points from their opening three matches. The visitors, however, showed their attacking intent from the opening whistle. Garden broke the deadlock inside eight minutes when Yegoian delivered a dangerous cross from the left flank, allowing the striker to turn home the opener. Willem II nearly responded immediately when Devin Haen struck the crossbar, though the flag rose for offside anyway, denying any momentum shift.
Excelsior's Second-Half Control
The visitors doubled their advantage just past the half-hour mark through a set-piece routine. Meissen powered home a header from a corner kick, continuing Excelsior's pattern of converting dead-ball opportunities. Willem II offered minimal attacking threat before halftime, allowing their opponents to control possession and tempo with ease. The introduction of debutant Tonny Vilhena early in the second half provided some fresh impetus, but the damage was already substantial.
Chido Obi, arriving on loan from Manchester United, was thrown into the fray with fifteen minutes remaining in an attempt to spark a comeback. The tactical changes proved ineffective against a resolute Excelsior defense. Yegoian sealed the victory with an impressive finish late in the contest, drilling a precise effort into the near corner following a long clearance by goalkeeper Stijn van Gassel. The result leaves Willem II still searching for their first Eredivisie victory since gaining promotion, while Excelsior continue their promising start to the season.
