Excelsior picked up where they left off last season with a 2-1 win over Willem II.
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Twelve points in the last five games of last season kept Excelsior away from the danger zone and despite losing key players such as Nigel Hasselbaink and Warner Hahn during rhe summer they have started the new campaign with a fine victory.
The hosts began brightly but on 29 minutes A Hicham Faik free kick was diverted towards goal by Milan Massop and the ball came off the post, and back into the net via goalkeeper Timon Wellenreuther. Seven minutes into the second half it was 2-0 with Zakaria El Azzouzi lashing the ball past Wellenreuther after being played in by Kevin Vermeulen. El Azzouzi celebrated by revealing a t-shirt dedicated to his former Ajax teammate Abdelhak Nouri.
Fran Sol pulled one back for Willem II in the 65th minute but the hosts failed to find an equaliser and it was Excelsior who came closest before the end as the post denied Stanley Elbers.
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