Despite being down to ten men, Heracles Almelo scored twice in injury time to earn a 2-2 draw at Excelsior. 

The home side went into the game hoping to keep their slim play-off hopes alive and they took the lead in the seventh minute through Ali Messaoud.

Heracles came close to equalising before the break but Excelsior goalkeeper Ã–gmundur Kristinsson pulled off an impressive stop to deny Paul Gladon’s header.

Four minutes into the second half, it all went wrong for the visitors. Peter van Ooijen prevented a Excelsior goal by handballing on the line which earned the midfielder a straight red card and the home side a penalty. Mike van Duinen slotted in the spot-kick to make it 2-0.

Excelsior dominated with the extra-man but failed to add a third goal with Hicham Faik and Jeffry Fortes both hitting the post, while Bram Castro made several saves.

A Heracles comeback seemed impossible but in the 92nd minute, Jamiro Monteiro pulled one back. Two minutes later, Jordy de Wijs brought down Jaroslav Navrátil, which looked outside the box, but a penalty was given. Monteiro dispatched the spot-kick to earn Heracles a surprising point.

Excelsior remain 10th and four points outside the play-off spots. Heracles are in 11th.




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