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Heerenveen turn the floodlights into fireworks
A crisp autumn evening in Heerenveen turned into a one‑man show for the home side, who ripped a 4‑0 canvas from a bewildered Excelsior. The first half was a textbook example of how to make a statement: a solitary strike before the break gave the hosts a comfortable lead and set the tone for the demolition that followed.
The opening goal arrived in the 22nd minute when winger Johan Vink, fresh from a dribble that left two defenders clutching at air, slotted home a low cross from full‑back Ramon de Lange. Vink’s 7.8 rating reflected his blend of speed and composure, and the early lead forced Excelsior to chase shadows they never caught.
Excelsior, occupying the lower reaches of the table, tried to regroup after the interval but found themselves chasing a phantom. Their midfield looked more like a revolving door than a cohesive unit, and every time they pressed, Heerenveen’s back line, marshalled by captain Milan Koster, shrugged it off. Koster’s 8.2 rating was a masterclass in calm authority, his interceptions and aerial dominance keeping the Dutch side on a short leash.
The second half opened with a thunderbolt. In the 51st minute, striker Davy Mertens, who had been quiet all season, erupted with a curling effort from the edge of the box that left the goalkeeper flat-footed. Mertens earned a 9.0 – the highest of the night – and his brace put the final nail in the coffin. A third came from a set‑piece, as centre‑half Sander Bouwmeester rose above everyone to head home a corner, his 7.9 rating underscoring his aerial prowess.
Excelsior’s misery was compounded when their own forward, Nicolas Vogt, limped off with a hamstring strain in the 68th minute, confirming the day belonged to Heerenveen. The final blow arrived in the 84th minute when substitute Kofi Agyeman, fresh off the bench, tapped in a tap‑in after a defensive lapse, sealing a 4‑0 rout that will be remembered as a textbook demolition.
From a table perspective, the victory nudges Heerenveen a few spots up the mid‑table, tightening the race for the Europa Conference League places. Meanwhile, Excelsior remain entrenched near the relegation zone, and the heavy defeat will likely see them slip further away from safety unless they find a miracle in the remaining fixtures.
Heerenveen walked off the pitch as the undisputed bosses, while Excelsior were left to wonder whether they’d been invited to a friendly or a demolition derby. One thing’s clear: the Heerenveen faithful will be dreaming of more fireworks, and the Excelsior faithful will be counting their blessings that at least they avoided a 5‑0 embarrassment.
Player Ratings
- Davy Mertens (Heerenveen) – 9.0
- Milan Koster (Heerenveen) – 8.2
- Sander Bouwmeester (Heerenveen) – 7.9
- Johan Vink (Heerenveen) – 7.8
- Kofi Agyeman (Heerenveen) – 7.5
- Nicolas Vogt (Excelsior) – 5.2
- Excelsior goalkeeper – 4.8