Decisive figure sets Heracles up in Excelsior stalemate | OneFootball

Sem Scheperman put Heracles ahead in the 23rd minute with a close-range finish, as Heracles drew 1-1 with Excelsior. The midfielder set the tone before going off injured.

He reacted quickest after a corner, steering a left-footed effort into the bottom right (23.). It was a reward for arriving late into the box and reading the second ball.

Before the break he threatened again, attacking Naci Unuvar's delivery and seeing a header blocked (43.). His timing kept Excelsior's defence pinned inside their six-yard area.

Scheperman finished with two attempts, seven possessions won and two tackles, plus three aerial wins, underlining how his aggression without the ball and penalty-box runs tilted territory Heracles' way.

Given licence as the extra runner from midfield, his movement off set pieces repeatedly disrupted Excelsior's marking and helped Heracles control key first half phases.

Heracles visit Heerenveen next, while Excelsior host NEC Nijmegen.