Decisive figure frustrates FC Twente as Excelsior hold firm | OneFootball

Stijn van Gassel set the tone in the 11th minute with a sharp save, and his handling under pressure ensured FC Twente 0-0 Excelsior.

Early on, the Excelsior goalkeeper sprang right to push away Ricky van Wolfswinkel's rising effort, a reflex stop that prevented the hosts from cashing in on a fast start.

He followed up by parrying Thomas Van Den Belt's close-range strike (16.), then stood tall to gather Sondre Ørjasæter's drive from the left side of the box (31.). Each intervention reset the tempo and bought his team breathing space.

Van Gassel finished with three saves and one high claim, a calm presence as FC Twente piled up 11 corners and 65.1% of the ball. With 50 touches, he also helped Excelsior play out of pressure rather than simply clear their lines.

Because he commanded his area and picked off crosses cleanly, Twente's repeated deliveries rarely turned into second balls inside the six-yard box. That, more than anything, kept Excelsior stable through the game's key phases.

Excelsior host Ajax next in the Eredivisie, while FC Twente visit NAC Breda.