Decisive figure in goal anchors Excelsior | OneFootball

Stijn van Gassel set the tone in the third minute with a sharp low save, and Excelsior beat NAC Breda 2-0. The goalkeeper's handling and positioning steadied the visitors throughout.

He dived low to his left to turn away a skidding effort (3.). After the dismissal reduced the hosts to ten (12.), he palmed a rising drive from distance (22.).

Van Gassel stayed busy before the interval, pushing a shot towards the bottom right (36.). Moments later he got down again to his left to keep another effort out (37.).

After the restart he parried a strike bound for the corner (59.). He then held a central attempt to preserve control (68.). He finished with six saves and two high claims, underpinning a composed clean sheet.

His distribution mattered too, with 47 passes and eight throws giving Excelsior breathing space whenever NAC pressure built.

Excelsior rise from 13th to 10th in the Eredivisie and host AZ next. NAC Breda visit Heracles in their next league fixture.