Friendlies Clubs· Season 2026
Excelsior beat Cambuur 3-2 in their pre-season friendly opener in Vlaardingen, racing into a 3-0 lead before a late Cambuur rally set up a tense finish.
Match Videos
Match Analysis
AI SummaryHow It Unfolded
Excelsior started with purpose and took the lead inside five minutes. Gyan de Regt fired the hosts ahead in the 5th minute after a sharp opening spell. Noa Naujoks doubled the advantage in the 19th minute, and Excelsior carried that 2-0 cushion into half-time.
The Kralingers continued to dominate after the restart. Noa El Hamdaoui made it 3-0 in the 55th minute, a margin that appeared to have killed the contest entirely.
Cambuur, playing their second pre-season outing under Johan Plat, refused to fold. Left-back Floris van der Goot pulled one back in the 79th minute, and Remco Henstra made it 3-2 with a second in the 83rd, setting up a tense finale. Excelsior held on through the closing stages to secure the win.
The Turning Point
El Hamdaoui's 55th-minute strike, the third goal, had effectively settled the match — but Cambuur's refusal to accept defeat and their two goals in four minutes (79', 83') turned a routine friendly into a genuine test of Excelsior's composure. The hosts had made heavy second-half substitutions — 12 in total across the match per the 4score data — and their disjointed shape allowed Cambuur back into it.
Key Performers
Gyan de Regt (Excelsior) — Opened the scoring inside five minutes and caused problems down the right flank throughout the first hour.
Noa El Hamdaoui (Excelsior) — Scored the crucial third goal that appeared to seal the result, finishing confidently in the 55th minute.
Floris van der Goot (Cambuur) — Led the fightback with his 79th-minute goal and pushed forward effectively from left-back.
Remco Henstra (Cambuur) — Scored the second goal within four minutes of van der Goot's strike, briefly threatening an unlikely comeback.
Player of the Match: Noa El Hamdaoui — his goal proved decisive and his all-round link play stood out.
By the Numbers — Interpreted
Both sides took 13 and 14 shots respectively (5 each on target), reflecting an open, transitional game typical of early pre-season. Possession was virtually split at 51-49 per 4score, despite Excelsior's 3-0 lead. The match featured heavy rotation: 12 Excelsior substitutions and 13 from Cambuur, underlining the fitness-building priorities. No cards were issued in a clean, competitive friendly.
What It Means
This was Excelsior's first pre-season fixture of the summer, part of a six-match programme that continues with a trip to FC Dordrecht on 11 July. Cambuur's second friendly (after beating Regioteam Kootstertille on 30 June) ended in defeat, but Johan Plat told Cambuur's official site: "Ondanks het verlies zijn we heel blij met deze wedstrijd" — despite the loss, they were very pleased with the workout. Cambuur next face Roda JC in a closed-doors friendly on 10 July.
The fixture carried extra context: the two sides begin the 2026/27 Eredivisie season against each other on 8 August, with Excelsior travelling to Leeuwarden for the opening weekend.
Verdict
A pre-season friendly played at genuine intensity for long spells. Excelsior's fast start and three-goal burst showed quality in the final third, while Cambuur's late response — two goals in four minutes — demonstrated character Plat will value. The 8 August league meeting between the same sides in Leeuwarden already carries extra intrigue.
Match Events
Excelsior and Cambuur have met 13 times — Excelsior won 4, Cambuur won 7, with 2 draws. Their rivalry dates back to 2014. Cambuur leads the head-to-head with 7 victories from 13 meetings. A combined 39 goals have been scored across these fixtures, averaging 3.00 per match (15 for the home side, 24 for the visitors). Both teams scored in 6 matches (46%). Over 2.5 goals landed in 5 games (38%), making it a fixture that tends to produce goals. The highest-scoring encounter finished 7–2 in 2021.
Statistics are for informational purposes only. Past performance does not guarantee future results.
API data: 5 Jul 2026