In a pre-season international club friendly played at the Matchoholic Stadion on 11 July 2026, Dutch Eerste Divisie side Excelsior SBV comfortably defeated FC Dordrecht 2-0. The result gave Excelsior a positive start to their friendly campaign, while Dordrecht will look to sharpen their attacking edge before the season proper begins.

Match Highlights

Excelsior dominated the opening exchanges, with their midfield trio of Julian Baas, Reda Kharchouch and Youssef El Azzouzi controlling the tempo. The first goal arrived in the 22nd minute when a corner was only partially cleared, allowing Julian Baas to volley home from the edge of the box. The strike was a beauty, giving the Dordrecht goalkeeper no chance.

Dordrecht tried to respond, but their forwards lacked precision in the final third. Striker Jari Schuurman forced a save from Excelsior keeper Calvin Raatsie, but the visitors’ defence, marshalled by veteran captain Mats Wieffer, held firm.

Second-Half Clinical Finish

Excelsior doubled their lead in the 61st minute through Reda Kharchouch. The midfielder collected a pass from Nikolas Agrafiotis on the counter-attack, drove into the box, and slotted the ball low past the advancing keeper. It was a clinical finish that sealed the result.

Dordrecht pushed forward in the final 20 minutes but lacked the creativity to break down a well-organised Excelsior defence. The home side’s best chance came from a free-kick that was tipped onto the crossbar. The final whistle confirmed a 2-0 win for the visitors.

Observation and Implications

For Excelsior SBV, this friendly provided a useful workout ahead of their Eerste Divisie season, with coach Marinus Dijkhuizen likely pleased with the defensive solidity and counter-attacking sharpness. Dordrecht, who finished 13th last season, will need to improve their goal-scoring threat before the league resumes. The match also gave fans a glimpse of new signings, with Excelsior’s summer arrivals all featuring during the game.

Notable Performances

• Julian Baas (Excelsior) – Scored a stunning opener and pulled the strings in midfield.
• Reda Kharchouch (Excelsior) – Added the second goal and was a constant threat on the break.
• Calvin Raatsie (Excelsior) – Kept a clean sheet with a composed display in goal.