Groningen beats Excelsior and manages to win again after 11 games

FC Groningen finally won another game in the Eredivisie after eleven games without victory. In Groningen, Excelsior, rival in the fight against relegation, was defeated 3-0.

The last time the Groningers stepped off the field with three points was on October 24, when PSV was defeated 4-2. Since then, three draws and eight games were lost. It cost coach Frank Wormuth his head and Groningen slipped further and further down the rankings.

In the match against Excelsior, the number 15 of the league table, it was soon clear that Groningen had things well in hand. It was one-way traffic in the first 45 minutes and that produced several chances for the home team.

Despite the field advantage, however, thanks in part to excellent goalkeeping by Stijn van Gassel, only one goal was scored. A clever pass put Daleho Irandust Johan Hove in position and the Norwegian midfielder slid the ball into the far corner.

Groningen controlled the game after that, but was still startled when just after halftime Peer Koopmeiners had a great chance. The AZ mercenary went alone towards the Groningen goal, but defender Liam van Gelderen put in a slide just in time to prevent a shot.

Two minutes later, it was on the other end that it hit the mark. Ricardo Pepi was put to work by Irandust with a beautiful pass. The American striker cut out an opponent and now managed to pass Van Gassel.

Excelsior did not do anything in return and Groningen, where Jetro Willems made his debut after an hour of play, simply extended the margin to three goals. Van Gelderen rushed into the penalty area and got the ball against him. He then shot hard.

The win keeps FC Groningen in seventeenth place in the Eredivisie, but it now has as many points as number sixteen FC Emmen. Emmen, which hosts Go Ahead Eagles Sunday afternoon, does have a better goal difference. Excelsior remains fifteenth.